CHESTNUT CULTURE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. 109 



import for consumption in their raw, unwholesome form. With the exception of 

 the occasional Thanksgiving turkey stuffed with chestnut dressing, chestnuts in 

 their many appetizing cooked forms seldom appear on the bill of fare of the Ameri- 

 can people ; and yet housewives are constantly complaining of the lack of variety in 

 the foods obtainable. Why not try chestnuts? Mrs. Rorer gives several excellent 



recipes which any cook can follow or enlarge upon at will. If given a fair trial the 



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chestnut cannot fail to commend itself for general table use, and when once gener- 

 ally introduced new uses for it will be found, and its permanent place among our 

 valuable food products assured. 



Insects. 



Enemies in the form of fire, thieves, or wind may be fought and controlled, either 

 wholly or in part ; but when we consider the insect pests in their relation to chestnut 

 culture, a more serious problem presents itself. Insects are so subtle in their work- 

 ings, so mysterious in their many forms, and present such vast numbers, that man 

 with his limited powers must stand more or less powerless in the event of their 

 extended ravages. 



The chestnut as a tree is not seriously injured in either leaves or trunk by any 

 form of boring or defoliating insect ; but unfortunately the nuts furnish a breeding 

 place and food supply to a very destructive larva known as the "chestnut weevil." 

 So great has been the destruction wrought by this weevil in parts of the country, 

 especially in the South, and on the more susceptible varieties, that many growers 

 have ceased the commercial propagation of the nuts because of the annual reduction 

 of profits by the ravages of the weevil. It must be admitted that the tribute of one- 

 half to three-fourths of the crop, which weevils sometimes levy, is decidedly dis- 

 couraging; but these extreme cases are usually the result of unwise choice of 

 species, or an unfavorable location of the grove or orchard. Improved varieties 

 suffer most in or near native chestnut forests. Japanese varieties suffer less than 

 European, and of the latter the Paragon is least affected. Insect pests on apple, 

 peach and other fruit trees have been controlled, and it seems reasonable to suppose 

 that if chestnut culture assumes sufficient proportions, remedial measures will be 

 found for the chestnut weevil. 



At present the danger of an annual diminution of profits from wormy nuts is the 

 one drawback to extensive culture of improved chestnuts, especially on cut-over 

 chestnut land. The control of this pest is a question of vital interest to growers 

 and entomologists, and upon its proper solution depends, to a great extent, the 

 ultimate success of chestnut culture on waste land. With the Paragon and other 



