100 THE NUT CULTUKIST. 



OoMFOET. — Burs very large, broad, somewhat flat- 

 tened; spines very strong and long, branching; nuts 

 very broad, with short point, and shell covered from 

 base to point with scattering silky hairs, thicker at upper 

 end. In quality, about th,e same as in the ordinary vari- 

 eties of the species, but to some persons' taste it is bet- 

 ter, having less astringency in the skin surrounding the 

 kernel. Origin uncertain, but said to have been grown 

 for many years at Germantown, a suburb of Philadelphia, 

 Pa., where the Paragon chestnut was discovered. The 

 Comfort certainly closely resembles the Paragon, but I 

 have not had an opportunity of fruiting trees under the 

 two names side by side, as would be necessary to deter- 

 mine their identity or difference, if they are really 

 distinct. 



CooPEK. — A very large variety; has been in cultiva- 

 tion for several years in Camden Co., N. J., but up to 

 the present time the trees have not been propagated for 

 sale, although I am informed by Mr. John E. Parry 

 that there are a large number under cultivation. The 

 tree is described as of a broad spreading habit, with 

 enormously large leaves, and immensely productive. 

 Nuts very large, smooth and glossy, with little fuzz 

 near the top. In quality they may be considered excel- 

 lent for a variety of this class. The burs are very large, 

 and this is its greatest or only fault ; for when nearly^- 

 mature they absorb and retain such a quantity of water 

 daring heavy rains, in addition to the oi'iginal weight 

 and the enclosed nuts, that the trees are liable to be 

 broken down by strong winds. 



Corson. — Burs of immense size ; spines an inch or 

 more in length, from a stout, woody, irregularly branch- 

 ing stem, resting on the moderately thin husk. Nuts 

 extra large, usually three in a bur ; shell dark brown, 

 somewhat ridged ; the upper end or point of the shell 

 densely covered with a white, almost woolly, pubescence, 



