THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



seeds but the seedlings develop long, thick tap-roots 

 and in consequence are difficult to transplant. The 

 best plan is to sow the nuts and leave the seedlings 

 to develop in situ. The better varieties are in- 

 creased by grafting and budding and old trees can 

 be headed-back and top-worked in a satisfactory man- 

 ner in the warmer states. In the North the propa- 

 gation is more difficult but yearly it is becoming bet- 

 ter understood and in time will probably become as 

 easy as that of the Apple and Peach. In the Arnold 

 Arboretum the Bitternut (C. cordijormis) has been 

 found to be the best stock. The work is done 

 under glass in January and side-grafting close to the 

 collar of the stock is favoured. The pecan industry 

 is of course well established in the warmer states but 

 it can never become profitable in New England nor in 

 the colder parts of this country. But there seems to be 

 no reason why Hickory orchards cannot be successfully 

 established in regions where the Pecan is not 

 hardy. 



To write of the Chestnuts when those in this coun- 

 try are fast disappearing through disease is not a pleas- 

 ant task. No cure has been found for this fatal disease, 

 and it looks as if in a few years one of the valuable tim- 

 ber trees in eastern North America will have vanished. 

 It is sad, but we may as well realize that it cannot be 

 helped. Thousands, yes, billions, of types have risen 

 186 



