ON THE CHESTNUT 



its way to the United States, but it presumably 

 came on lumber brought from the Orient. 



The appearance of this pest came as a very dis- 

 couraging factor just at a time when interest in 

 the chestnut as a commercial proposition was 

 being thoroughly aroused. Government bulletins 

 had called attention to the value of its nut and its 

 possibility as a paying crop. 



But, of course, all expectations were nullified in 

 the regions where the ravages of the chestnut fun- 

 gus are felt. 



Fortunately, it appears that some of the hybrid 

 races that bear the Oriental strain are immune to 

 the disease. Observations as to this have been 

 made very recently by Dr. Robert T. Morris, of 

 New York. Reports show that hybrids between 

 the Japanese chestnut and the American Chinqua- 

 pin are peculiarly resistant. The chinquapin itself 

 is at least partially immune to the disease, but of 

 course this plant bears a nut that is too small to 

 have commercial value. The hybrids, however, 

 in some cases are said to retain the good qualities 

 of the chestnut tree combined with the capacity to 

 bear large nuts acquired from their Oriental 

 ancestor. 



It is obvious, then, that here is another case in 

 which the introduction of new blood from the 

 Orient may be of inestimable value. The loss of 



[H3J 



