Chestnut. Of its size and quality, Mr. Andrew Fuller says in the Nut Culturist: “ Burs of 
immense size, often five inches or more in diameter; nuts of large size, sweet, fine grain and superior 
flavor; tree hardy, exceedingly precocious and productive.” 
Prof. Brackett, United States Pomologist, Washington, D. C., speaks of Sober Paragon, as 
follows: ‘‘The Sober Paragon comes the nearest in quality to the native chestnut of any of the 
cultivated varieties that I have examined. It is of large size, fine appearance and excellent flavor.” 
Prof. John Craig, of New York State College of Agriculture, at Cornell University, says: “ I 
beg to acknowledge yours of Nov. 18th, and to say that your sample of Sober Paragon Chestnuts 
has been received. This sample illustrates a very fine variety of chestnut. The nuts will go into 
our permanent nut collection when the exhibition closes.” This was followed by the announce¬ 
ment Dec. 3rd, that Sober Paragon had taken the first premium. ‘‘Although there was not a large 
exhibition of chestnuts, of the few plates we did have yours easily outclassed the others in size and 
eating qualities. We have noticed in many varieties of chestnuts the smaller ones were almost 
always the sweetest, and as they grew larger they became more bitter. We could not find this fault 
with yours; in fact the judges seemed surprised when they tasted your plate of nuts. I am enclosing 
the ribbon that goes with the prize.” 
It is a well established fact that Sober Paragon is the only large sweet chestnut and a commer¬ 
cial success. The parent orchard at Chestnut Grove Stock Farm produced over 5,000 bushelsof nuts 
last Fall, for which over $30,000 were received. The demand was so great even on the far Pacific 
Coast, that Hamill Bros., Commission Merchants of Seattle, desired them by the car load, and 
finally Dr. Robt. T. Morris, of New York City, says, in the Southern Fruit Grower of September : 
‘‘ I believe that nut trees are largely to take the place of the useless trees which are at present planted 
for decorative purposes in public and private grounds. The reason for this belief is because there 
are no more beautiful trees or more attractive than those to be found in the nut bearing group.” 
A TYPICAL BUR OF SOBER PARAGON CHESTNUT—NATURAL SIZE. 
( For description and price see Page 6 ) 
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