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 
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