Inventory 74, Seeds and Plants Imported 



Plate III 



(Castanea mollissima 



A Promising Chestnut From Northern China. 

 BLUME; S. P. I. No. 56397) 



The rapidly progressing destruction of native American chestnut forests by blight has focused 

 the attention of horticulturists upon this Chinese species, which has already shown its adapta- 

 bility to climatic and soil conditions in this country as well as a remarkable degree of resist- 

 ance to the disease. It is promising not only as a source of tannin but also for its edible nuts, 

 which are nearly as large and as good as those of the native American chestnut. The 

 attention of the Department of Agriculture was first directed to this species by the late 

 Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer. (Photographed by C. A. Reed, Vanchiachuan, 

 Chihli, China, September 7, 1922; P36689FS) 



