104 



THE KUT CULTUEIST. 



exceedingly precocious and productive when grafted on 

 strong, healthy stock. A four-year-old tree on my 

 grounds is shown in Fig. 32. It was loaded with nuts 

 in the fall of 1894. This is one of the best of its class. 

 Origin somewhat in doubt, but it is claimed that the 

 late W. L. Shaffer, of Philadelphia, raised it from a for- 

 eign nut planted in his garden, and who, some eighteen 

 years or more ago, gave cions to W. H. Engle, of 



Marietta, Pa. Mr. Engle 

 has since propagated and 

 disseminated this variety 

 quite extensively under its 

 present name, but should 

 further investigation prove 

 it to be distinct and that 

 it was raised by Mr. Shaf- 

 fer, then it should certain- 

 s=^ ly bear his name, and Par- 

 agon become a synonym. 

 No more appropriate mon- 

 ument could possibly be erected in honor of a distin- 

 guished horticulturist like the late Mr. Shaffer, than a 

 chestnut tree, nor could his memory be perpetuated 

 under more pleasant and agreeable surroundings than 

 to have his name linked inseparably with such an excel- 

 lent and valuable variety. 



EiDGELT. — Burs large, with dense spines, but not 

 as long as those of the Paragon. Nuts large, pointed ; 

 shell dark brown, with very little pubescence, and this 

 mainly at the point (Fig. 33). In quality this variety, 

 ranks very near, if not the equal of, the best of its class, 

 and it has been highly commended, by those who have 

 been acquainted with it, for many years. 



The origin of the Eidgely, as recorded, leaves the 

 question of name a debatable one. Some sixty years 

 ago a Mr. Dupont, of Wilmington, Del., gave or.sent to 



FIG. 31. PARAGON CHESTNXfT. 



