302 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



tensive in hilly districts it grows luxuriantly, becomes well developed 

 and productive. The localities in which it can be satisfactorily 

 grown are hence quite readily determined. To some extent it can 

 and has been grown in places where it is not native, and in soils not 

 of light and gravelly nature, but generally imperfectly and with 

 difficulty, and the trees have been sterile or at least irregular and un- 

 certain in fruiting. It has been noticed that near the borders of 

 the area in which this tree is native it is quite liable to be barren and 

 to attain a meager size and development. To avoid disappointment 

 one should satisfy himself that both climate and soil conditions are 

 favorable before attempting chestnut culture. 



The chestnut grows naturally from the seed or nut, and also 

 reproduces itself indefinitely by sprouts from the base of the trunk. 

 This second method is very common, particularly in newly cleared 

 land, and makes more easy and rapid the renewal of these trees 

 than of those kinds which grow from the seed alone. 



In growth from the seed it is found that the nuts lose their vital- 

 ity in a remarkably short time, and hence special care must be taken 

 either to plant them very soon after they are gathered or else to keep 

 them so protected that their vitality is not impaired. Loss of vitality 

 is practically coincident with loss of moisture, and nuts once dried 

 will not germinate, while those partially dried will be more or less 

 uncertain in their germinative powers. Nine-tenths of all failures 

 in the germination of this and many other seeds usually comes from 

 drying or the inability of the seed to procure sufficient moisture dur- 

 ing germination. Nuts intended for planting should be kept buried 

 in soil, or, better still, coarse saw dust or litter, slightly moist, until 

 they can be planted. If possible nuts should be planted where the 

 trees are to stand. The seedling is characterized by a remarkably 

 long and vigorous tap root. It much exceeds the stem in both length 

 and thickness. If allowed to grow without removal there is no check 

 on growth ; if transplanted it is impossible to avoid some mutilating 

 of the roots, generally a loss of a considerable part of the tap root, 

 and experience shows that in the chestnut tree this is more of an 

 interference, and requires more time to recover from than in any of 

 our common fruit trees, to say nothing of the occasional loss of a tree, 

 which transplanting always involves. 



When a chestnut tree is cut the stumps and roots still retain 

 their vitality and a vigorous growth of young stems springs up, 

 chiefly from the base of the stump. If left to themselves the stronger 

 will smother and crowd out the weaker, but ordinarily several will 

 remain to grow to maturity. This is still too many. They are 

 crowded and are likely to grow crooked and imperfect. If desired 

 for timber they should be left so close together that the growth will 

 be thrown chiefly into the trunk, but if fruiting trees are wanted 

 they should be gradually thinned out so that each of those remaining 

 will have ample room for low, round-headed development. 



The chestnut tree is valuable for its wood and bark as well as 

 for its fruit. The wood is characterized for its lightness and porosity, 

 and is specially valuable for its durability. The specific gravity 



