LtM'i 8 Bt?RGi Pa. Oct. 16, 1907. 
Neleox Fithias Davis, So. D. 
FBOFESBOR OF BIOLOOT 
BUCKSELL USIVEKSITT 
Mr. C. K. Sober, 
Lewisburg, Pa. 
Dear Sir:--The "Sober Paragon" Chestnuts which we obtained from your farm 
In Irish Valley have been thoroughly enjoyed by u^ all. It seems to me they are 
unusually fine this year. I made several tests as to their quality and sweetness, 
comparing them with our native chestnuts, and I found that when cut into small pieces. 
bo that we could not tell them by their looks, it was quite impossible to distinguish 
the one from the other. I consider the "Sober Paragon" equal to the native chestnut in 
quality and sweetness, and it certainly has the advantage in size. 
Very truly, y -* 
~7* sC 
CHESTNUTS AS FOOD 
In America, we eat the nut after meals as a dessert, and between meals. We 
do not look upon the nut as a food. Chestnuts differ from most other nuts in that 
they contain less fat, and more carbohydrates, being also fairly rich in protein. 
When taken into the animal body, protein forms tissue, fats are stored as fats, 
carbohydrates are changed into fat, and the mineral matter (ash) aids in digestion 
and in forming bone, teeth, etc. 
But on this subject we can not do better than to refer to Farmers’ Bulletins. 
No. 142, United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. W. O. Atwater includes 
the chestnut, in giving the Principles of Nutrition and Nutritive Value of Food, 
in Bulletins Nos. 114 and 122. 
PRODUCTIVENESS 
A five-year-old tree has borne 500 burs, 300 of which were removed and 200 
allowed* to mature. It is truly astonishing that so many burs will appear on so 
young a tree. The trees begin to bear when two or three years old, but should 
not be allowed to overbear. 
The grafted trees grow rapidly and frequently set fruit the first year, bear¬ 
ing heavy loads of burs the second year. It is advisable to pick off all fruits for the 
first two or three years in order that the energy of the tree may be devoted to the 
production of a vigorous growth of wood and a well-established root system 
before reproduction begins. 
While it is not expected that the crop will be full every year, Mr. Sober’s 
orchard has never as yet had an “off year.” He believes there is not an acre of 
farm land so valuable for other crops that in the end it would not pay infinitely 
better to give it up to the cultivation of the Sober Paragon Chestnut. 
PENNSYLVANIA STATE GRANGE 
PATRON8 OF HU8BANDRY 
OFFICE OF MASTER, W. F. HILL 
Pennsylvania Grange News, 
OFFICIAL ORGAN 
Chambersburg, Pa. Nov. 8. 1907 
C. K. Sober, 
Lewisburg. Pa. 
Dear Sir:- 
I am to-day in receipt of a sack of very fine Sober Paragon chestnuts sent me 
with your compliments. It was very kind of you to remember me in this substantial 
manner and I assure you that our whole family appreciate it very much. The chestnuts are 
of nice size, perfect, and after boiling about a quart of them we can testify to their 
good flavor. Again thanking you and with kindest personal regards, I remain. 
Very sincerely yours, 
WPH/MSH 
Master State Grange. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
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