Bcpartment of agriculture 
XUasbington, D. C. 
OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
Hovember 26, 190'*. 
My Dear Sir: 
I wish to again write you to say that everybody voted your 
chestnuts exceedingly fine, and to thank you most heartily for 
sending them. 
Very truly yours, 
Mr. C. K. Sober, 
Lewisburg, Pa. 
Personal 
will be partly made up. In spring, work should be done as earl} as possible, at 
least before the new growth begins. 
There are numerous methods of planting, but in all the most important thing 
is to take care of the roots. They are very sensitive to sun and wind and should 
never be exposed long enough to be dried out. When the trees are unpacked, they 
should be handled as carefully as possible so that very few roots be broken. 
Wrap the roots in wet burlap or cover them with moist moss, or place them in 
thin mud. The trees may then be carried safely to the place of planting. If this 
is not done at once, they should be “heeled in.” In planting, do not cramp the 
roots in any way, and see that the growing ends are down and not up. Place 
fine soil among the roots and pack it thoroughly ; if sod has been taken out, turn 
it upside down on the ground, close to the tree. Young plants are sensitive 
to being planted too deep and so should not be deeper than they were in the 
nursery. When large roots have been broken or bruised, they should be cut off 
smooth with a sharp knife. Planting can not be done too carefully. 
CULTIVATION 
Trees in the permanent orchard should be set not less than 30 feet apart 
each way. They are usually pruned to an open spreading form, with three to five 
main branches, and cultivation given similar to that of a young apple orchard. 
GATHERING OR HARVESTING THE NUTS 
As the Paragon nut is slow in falling, and as it is desirable usually to gather 
the crop early in order to get the highest prices for the nuts, it is frequently, in 
fact, generally necessary to pick the burs from the trees by hand. A long pole, 
with a fork at the end, is used for this purpose, and is very successful while the 
trees are small. When the nuts are to be gathered from large Paragon trees, it 
may pay to wait a few days, as the heavy burs will soon fall. The collected burs 
are placed in the shade on a tight floor where they may be opened and the nuts 
A. C. FANNING 
TOWANDA. PENNSYLVANIA 
PRESIDENT JUDGE 42ND JUO DIST 
Mr. Coleman K. Sober, Hovember 20. 1907. 
Lewisburg, Pa. 
Dear Mr. Sober:--Am in receipt of the sack of 
chestnuts. They are very fine and have attracted no little 
attention. I assure you the gift is appreciated. I feel like 
finding a suitable place and planting a quantity of your trees. 
Wishing you continued success and prosperity, I am, 
Cordially yours, 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
