88 NUT GROWING 



that hickories, hazels and beeches in particular would 

 grow freely from root cuttings under ordinary field 

 conditions if care was taken to give the cuttings 

 moisture enough. Sections of root varying from 

 six inches up to three feet in length were planted at 

 a slant beneath the ground, allowing half an inch or 

 so of one end to protrude. Numerous sprouts would 

 appear shortly and one only was allowed to grow, 

 the other being pinched off. Root cuttings were 

 sprouted also in large glass jars with a loose top. 

 Sections of root were placed in upright position 

 against the glass sides of the jar. The jar was then 

 filled loosely with living sphagnum moss and placed 

 upon a sunny window sill. Carbon dioxide settles 

 in the bottom of such a jar. It must be blown out 

 occasionally unless oxygen is furnished artificially. 

 Hazel branch cuttings will occasionally strike root 

 if they are placed in the ground after the manner of 

 rose slips. The only other nut tree cuttings which 

 I have made to grow in this way are those of the 

 alderleaf chestnut. The experiment was tried with 

 nearly all of the nut trees belonging to the latitude 

 of Connecticut. Doubtless cuttings from many 

 other species would have been made to grow under 

 suitable conditions such as may be furnished in a 

 hothouse with beds of earth steam-heated and an 

 abundance of moisture in the air. I planned to have 

 this work done experimentally in conjunction with 

 Professor John Craig, of Cornell University, shortly 

 before his death. In the death of Professor Craig 

 nut culture has lost one of its most valuable expo- 



