department of Bcjriculture 
Xdaebington, D. C. 
PR 
OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
November 8, 1907. 
My Dear Sir: 
I have your letter of November 6. I also have the crate of 
chestnuts. I wish to thank you, both for myself and for my 
little folks, who I am sure will greatly enjoy the nuts. I will 
give some to Secretary Wilson. 
Very truly yours, 
Mr. C. K, Sober, 
Lewisburg, Pa. 
Personal 
productive when grafted on strong, healthy stock, a four-year-old tree 
being loaded. This is one of the best of its class.” 
E. A. Sterling, in the Seventh New York State Report of the Forest, Fish 
and Game Commission, 1903,says: “Undoubtedly the best variety for general 
planting produced up to date is the Sober Paragon. The tree is hardy within the 
range of the native chestnut, ripening moderately early; in Central Pennsylvania, 
about October 1st, andcomes into bearing very young,and is exceeding prolific. 
In fact, the young trees are such heavy bearers that they should be held back foi 
two or three seasons by reducing the number of the burs. 
“A not serious reduction of its many good qualities is the tendency of the 
burs to remain closed and fall to the ground with the nuts still retained. They 
open readily, however, if spread in the sun; hence the only detriment is a slightly 
additional cost of harvesting. It saves, on the other hand, however, the loss and 
difficulty occasioned by picking the nuts from the grass and debris beneath the 
trees. The Sober Paragon can be safely recommended above all others.” 
Prof. Nelson F. Davis, of the Department of Biology and Zoology, Bucknell 
University, Lewisburg, Pa., in transmitting Bulletin No. 128, State of Penn¬ 
sylvania, devoted entirely to the Sober Paragon, says: 
“The object of this Bulletin, No. 128, devoted exclusively to the Sober 
Paragon Chestnut, is to give to farmers and fruit growers the benefit of the 
knowledge which Mr. Sober has gained during his eight years’ experience in 
cultivating the Sober Paragon Chestnut. No attempt will be made to give the 
history of the introduction of the cultivated chestnut into America, or to discuss 
the merits of the several varieties, such as the Numbo, Ridgely, Alpha, Reliance, 
Hall, or Parry. The Sober Paragon is recommended above all others, having 
produced the best results." 
THE SOBER PARAGON A MONEY MAKER 
“An acre of land will grow 35 bushels of wheat in a year if properly cultivated. 
A like area of chestnut trees will produce many times as many bushels of equally 
nutrious food yearly for an indefinite period, and require no outlay for cultivation, 
replanting or fertilization; more than this, the spring frosts, beating rains and 
summer droughts, which are a constant menace to a wheat crop, work no injury 
upon the chestnut tree or its fruit. Why, then, is wheat grown on millions of 
acres, while we fail to produce even enough chestnuts to supply the demand of 
one merchant and allow Southern Europe to exact large tribute from us annually 
for the bitter and astringent nuts we import for consumption ? With the exception 
of the occasional Thanksgiving turkey, stuffed with chestnut dressing, chestnuts 
in their many appetizing cooked forms seldom appear on the bill of fare of the 
American people; yet housewives are constantly complaining of the lack of variety 
in foods obtainable. Why not try chestnuts? If given a fair trial, the chestnut 
cannot fail to commend itself for general table use, and when once generally 
introduced, new uses for it will be found, and its valuable place among our food 
products be assured." 
GLEN BROTHERS 
4 
