DISCUSSION". 19 



go into detail. There are many different varieties of edible 

 nuts which could be cultivated at a profit in this country if 

 the subject was brought practically to the attention of our 

 farmers. Our chestnuts are among the finest flavored in the 

 world ; but what farmer is there in the state that would think 

 of planting chestnut trees for the purpose of raising a crop, 

 the same as he would of other farm products? I want to see 

 the time when the farmers shall understand the raising of 

 chestnut trees as well as they now do apple trees. The Ex- 

 periment Station is experimenting in this matter, and I am 

 hopeful that the object lessons which are being brought out 

 by that work will be of great benefit in the future. Dr. Britton 

 is doing good work in these experiments. We hope to show 

 that the farmers can do something in that line, and that they 

 will try to turn our work to account. 



I have said more than I intended when I rose, but out 

 of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. I have 

 had this subject on my mind so long that I feel that I ought 

 to be indulged a little in talking about it. 



Mr. NETTLETON'. I notice in all grocery stores bags of 

 charcoal, and I find they come from Pennsylvania. We do 

 not have any such product as that here, and I would like to 

 ask Dr. Rothrock how that is produced. 



Dr. ROTHROCK. I know very little about that, although 

 I know that it is being put up in the way you suggest. The 

 cheaper grades or waste wood are burnt and prepared in that 

 way. 



One thing which was suggested I would like to refer to 

 you, and that is the relative difference between the natural 

 growth of forest and a forest that had had proper care. We 

 have been somewhat in the habit of believing that the natural 

 growth of a forest is about the best that can be done. Now, 

 there is no greater fallacy than that. There are plenty of 

 acres of what you might say are cultivated forest lands in 

 Germany which are known to yield 100,000 feet of lumber. 



