which I noted growing in two nurseries in Italy were making faster 
growth than comparable pure European chestnuts. Testing the avai- 
lable seed of these hybrid chestnuts is recommended. 
36. Italy has been purchasing chestnut seed, scions, and plants 
with Economic Co-operation Administration funds handled 
through the U.S. Division of Forest Pathology, Plant Industry 
Station, Beltsville, Md. In the fall of 1950, the authorities in Italy 
estimated that they had growing in their nurseries 100,000 plants 
of Asiatic chestnuts and hybrids from the United States. These 
will be tested under various soil and climatic conditions in Italy. 
Large quantities of seed and plants were sent to Italy again in the 
spring of 1951. This material is composed of the offspring from 
many different introductions into the United States and their hybrids 
from different parts of China, Korea, and Japan. The major portion 
are pure Chinese chestnuts of various selections because this 
species has been more resistant to blight, is hardier, and produces 
a sweeter nut than the Japanese chestnut. 
37. There are also some old plantings of the Japanese chestnut 
in Italy. I examined some 20-year-old plantings that were very 
promising. Dr. A. Pavari indicated, however, that in Italy many of 
these plantings have not done as well as the European chestnut. 
38. At Bilbao, Spain, I examined plantings of Chinese and 
Japanese chestnuts. The older ones had made good growth and 
were doing very well. Chestnut blight was present on some of the 
Japanese chestnuts, and the Spanish authorities agreed to eradicate 
all trees that were infected. 
39. In Portugal, _ considerable breeding and selection work has 
been done with Japanese and hybrid chestnuts resistant to ink 
disease, and probably many of these selections will be resistant 
to blight. 
J. PROPAGATION OF ASIATIC CHESTNUTS 
40. Grafting, budding, and topworking of Asiatic chestnuts and 
their hybrids by the usual horticultural methods are being done in 
various countries. It is known that certain selections or varieties 
are much easier to graft and bud than others and that certain root- 
stocks are better than others. There have been some failures of 
graft unions from what seems like uncongeniality. The general 
recommendation is made that a variety or clone be grafted or budded 
on seedlings of the same variety or clone. 
18 
