298 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



the axils of the leaves on the new growth. Some growers think 

 it necessary to have the pollen of different trees intermingle in 

 order to get the best results. This idea is borne out by the 

 fact that solitary trees often fail to set fruit. 



Planting and care. — Ordinary seedlings of the American 

 chestnut commence to bear when from eight to fifteen years old, 

 while those that are grafted will frequently bear inside of five 

 years. On account of this, some growers follow the practice of 

 grafting all of their seedlings. It is probable that seedlings would 

 bear as quickly as grafted trees if they were girdled as recom- 

 mended for the grape. Where natural groves are used for grow- 

 ing nuts, the reproduction will often come from sprouts. If de- 

 sired, these may be grafted and cared for the same as seedlings. 

 In any case, however, the sprouts should be thinned out so that 

 the trees can take on their natural form. Where the ground is 

 overgrown with brush, it will be found a good plan, when the 

 trees are once fairly started, and out of reach of stock, to pas- 

 ture the land with sheep. This will destroy much of the brush 

 and the lower leaves on the chestnut trees, giving them a healthy 

 pruning. It will also have a tendency to prevent the spread of 

 fire, as the sheep mix the fallen leaves with the soil and thus pre- 

 vent the collection of large masses of leaves about the stems of 

 the trees. If the trees are to be planted out, the American si>c- 

 cies should be set from 40 to 50 feet apart each way. The for- 

 eign kinds do not grow so large and they may be planted nearer. 



The nuts are prepared for market by putting them in a suit- 

 able vessel and then pouring scalding hot water over them as 

 soon as gathered. By this means the eggs and larvae of the in- 

 sects in them are destroyed. The nuts should be gathered 

 promptly after falling and the scalding done at once, otherwise 

 the eggs of the weevil in the nuts will have a chance to de- 

 velop and will injure their sale. The nuts should stand in the 

 hot water for about fifteen minutes, after which they should be 

 taken out and carefully dried. 



There are several insects and diseases that affect the chest- 

 nut. The most harmful is probably the weevil, whose eggs are 

 laid in the nut, but no satisfactory remedy has been found for 

 It. The leaf diseases are subject to control by Bordeaux mixture. 



