REPRINTED FROM ORCHARD AND FARM. 
Published by Country lAfe Publishing Co., Jill South Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif. 
Opportoimities in ChestiniiuiiL Growio, 
SINCE the chestnut bark disease 
has either destroyed or doomed 
the native growth throughout the 
Eastern States, chestnut growing now 
affords unusually attractive opportuni- 
ties on the Pacific Coast. 
This destructive diseaoe which has 
prevented commei'cial planting in the 
Ea,st is not present on the coast, and 
rigid quarantine regulations, particu- 
larly in California, preclude its intro- 
duction. 
An attractive local market is prom- 
ised by the more than 300,000 Italians, 
said to reside in the Pacific West. Many 
Italians, in fact, class the chestnut 
with wine as an article of every day 
value in the diet. Not only the for- 
eigners, however, but also American 
consumers of all classes, may be ex- 
pected to use chestnuts in rapidly-in- 
creasing quantities. 
A VALUABLE FOOD 
For the possibilities of the chestnut 
as a valuable food are just beginning 
to be realized. Many have regarded 
it as a holiday luxury, but as a matter 
of fact, the chestnut has medicinal as 
well as food value. It is an easily- 
digested, energizing food, containing 
10.7 per cent protein and a high per- 
centage of crude fiber and ash, which 
together are said to aid digestion and 
promote intestinal activity. Further- 
more, the chestnut is known to possess 
rare and valuable salts that aid in pre- 
venting hardening of the arteries. 
The increasing interest in scientific 
eating and the growing number of 
vegetarians also would seem to indi- 
cate a profitable future market. 
There are many delightful ways to 
use chestnuts other than eating in the 
ordinary roasted form. Epicures are 
fond of chestnut dressing for fowls. 
The nuts may be used in salads, as a 
substitute for potatoes and as a thick- 
ening material for soups or other foods. 
Blended with eggs or other foods, they 
may be made into croquettes. 
MUST BE COOKED 
The chestnut never should be eaten 
raw. The nuts may be roasted, boiled 
or baked. The flavor is due to the 
oil content and is brought out by cook- 
ing, yet the nut should not be subjected 
to a higher temperature than neces- 
s!lry. More and more of the nuts are 
being used by American housewives. 
The fact remains, however, that the 
majority of the crop is sold on the 
streets of large cities by hot chestnut 
venders who roast them over charcoal 
braziers and sell small glassfuls, at 5 
or 10 cents each. Growers, therefore, 
strive to produce an early-maturing 
variety which will strike the holiday 
market. Larger, later-maturing Va- 
rieties, such as the Marrons, or so- 
called Italian types, are preferred for 
culinary purposes and therefore are 
suitable for later markets. 
LARGE QUANTITIES IMPORTED 
These larger kinds also are used by 
the Latin peoples. Even with the com- 
paratively limited demand, which by 
means of advertising and publicity, 
may be enormously increased, large 
quantities of oriental and Italian nuts 
are imported annually. 
Practically all the chestnuts produced 
on the Pacific Coast are consumed 
By C. E. Parsons, Horticulturist 
here. The Eastern markets prefer the 
small American Sweets, although great 
quantities of" the European kinds are 
imported. The West in fact prefers 
the large European kinds and on this 
coast it is difficult to sell the small 
American Sweets. However, moderate 
sized nuts of extra good quality will 
sell after a specila market is developed. 
Jobbers and commission houses in 
the cities, as well as fruit stands and 
fancy grocers handle large qiiantities 
of chestnuts. 
The market for Pacific Coast nuts 
will be opening up in the East if the 
new tariff law includes the increased 
duty on chestnuts requested by Sena- 
tor McNary of Oregon (namely, 5 cents 
a pound), but at present European nuts 
can be sold on the Atlantic seaboard, 
duty and ocean freight paid, for less 
than the cost of production to our 
growers. This duty also protects Pa- 
cific Coast growers against Oriental 
chestnuts, which sometimes are im- 
ported in such quantities that they 
must be sold at very low prices. 
The chestnut is valuable, not only 
Evidence Thai California Is a Good "Chestnut State" 
Above, left — The Jjoung lad]) is standing near a 5-year-old grafted tree Tfhich 
carries a good crop. Right — A 1 5-\)ear-old French chestnut (Marron Querc^) 
grovping at 3000 feet altitude in Nevada County, Cal. BeloXv — a pile of burrs 
showing appearance, as gathered from the tree. 
