446 



SYSTEM A TIC POMOLOGY. 



.'Vlso liints are .given on its ])roiia,a;ation, jilanting, and protection of 

 the nuts from the attacks of weevil. 



The most pnimisin.a; fields for the extension commercially of 

 chestnut-sro-iving is on the northern Ijorder of its native growth, on 

 sandy hillsides and high ridges with ratlicr thin soil. Even in the 

 prairie States it succeeds fairly well on thin dividing ridges, and on 

 the liluffs of streams formerly covered with timber. The Japan 

 varieties have most promise on the hills and mountain ridges south of 

 the fortieth parallel of latitude. We now have growing in the same 

 vicinity, and often on the same place, trees in bearing of the American 

 sweet chestnut (Castanca dentata),oi the European varieties (Castanea 

 saliva), and of the .Japanese varieties {Castanca crenata). This sug- 

 gests the possiljle results of natural and artificial cro.ssing. The 

 Japan varieties and our native species are closely related to the 

 European type, and no doulit they will cross readily. The Japan vari- 

 eties are relatively small in tree, with slender branches, come into 

 bearing much earlier than the native or European species, and the 

 nuts are very much larger than either, but inferior in quality to our 

 natives. We may liope l)y crossing to retain the liardiness of tree 

 and quality of nut of oiu' natives, and to secure varieties with lower 

 habits of growth, earlier Ijearing, and larger nuts nearly or quite equal 

 in quality to the native varieties. 



As yet the jiropagation of native varieties has been neglected 

 except in a very local wa}-. The following are propagated to some 

 extent. 



AMERK'.VX ^•APJETIES OF THE CHESTXET. 



Cooper. — Large, borne in verj- large liurr; very jiroductive, and 

 \1 much grown in the vicinity of rhiladel]>hia. 



Dulaney. — I^arge, excellent in quality; said 

 to Ijear when isolated. Kentucky. 

 < i-ily^ Hathaway. — Large, light-colore<l, sweet ker- 



5 "^^ *>%\ '^'''- ' i'i"'giihii' in bearing. ,Sometimes seven nuts 

 ' '^V 1 are found in one burr. Michigan. 



ij**/ Ketcham. — ^ledium to large, downv; qualitv 



'.'t»/ b.-t. Xew York. 

 J^S^ Lawyer. — Large, |iroductive and desirable, 



lljt'"" " Introduced from South Lass, Illinois. 



