THE CHESTNUT. Ill 



in Fig. 35, and this is a characteristic of all the Japan 

 chestnuts; branching and widely separated on a very 

 thin husk. Nuts very large ; shell a light yellowish 

 brown, with a few slight darker streaks from base to 

 apex. « Quality excellent for one of this species. Eipens 

 early, and long before touched by frost. 



Alpha (Parry). — Very similar to the last, but 

 ripens earlier, which would be an advantage in some 

 localities. Tree vigorous and productive. 



Beta (Parry). — Bur medium; spines rather long 

 and thin for one of this group, set on a thin husk. Nut 

 large ; shell light brown, smooth, with a slight trace of 

 pubescence near the tip. The leaves are shallow and 

 coarsely serrate, and on some the teeth or serratures are 

 entirely wanting. Ripens a little later than the Alpha, 

 or about the first of October in northern New Jersey. 



Early Reliance (Parry). — Burs medium, with 

 short, almost deflexed spines, on an exceedingly thin 

 husk. Nuts large, more pointed than in the last, and 

 of a lighter color the past season, but this may not be 

 constant, and may be due to the long and severe drouth 

 of the summer of 1894. Usually three nuts in a bur, and 

 sometimes four or five, but I do not consider this in- 

 crease in number a merit in any variety, for where there 

 are more than three they are likely to be of small size 

 and very much deformed. The original tree of the Re- 

 liance is enormously productive, and a regular bearer. 



Pelton. — A seedling of the common: Japanese 

 chestnut, raised by J. W. Killen, of Telton, Delaware. 



Giant Japan (Parry). — Burs large to extra large 

 for a variety of this species, with medium low branching 

 spines on a very thin, parchment-like husk. Nuts extra 

 large, usually only two in a bur, often only one, and 

 about two inches broad, much depressed at the top, with 

 a short point set in an irregular depression or basin. 

 Shell dark mahogany color, more or less ribbed ; kernel 



