136 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
The Chinkapin( Castanea pumila) 
Except as a wild product, this nut has perhaps the least 
commereial importance of any species mentioned in this 
])aper. A few cultivated varieties are in existence, but the 
nuts are commonly looked upon by experienced growers as 
novelties rather than as products worthy of special attention. 
The species is merely that of a dwarf chestnut growing as a 
shrub instead of as a tree. It is less hardy than the chestnut, 
being evidently best adapted to the climatic conditions of 
the southern portion of the chestnut area and even farther 
south. 
FOREIGN NUTS 
The European and Asiatic Chestnuts {Castanea sativa; 
Castanea Japonica) 
It is probable that within the area under discussion greater 
attention has been paid to the introduction of European and 
Asiatic chestnuts than to any other foreign species. The 
former is a moderately strong grower usually, with a low, 
rather broad top. The latter makes a small tree chiefly of 
value for ornamental purposes. Both are grown principally 
from second generation seedlings, which seem better adapted 
to American conditions than do imported trees. 
As in the case with the American sweet chestnuts, the 
existence of these species in the United States is threatened 
by the swiftly spreading chestnut blight. 
The Persian Walnut {Juglans regia) 
The Persian walnut was among the first nut species to be 
introduced. The area east of the Rocky Mountains within 
which it seemed most successful previous to 1896 was 
described in “Nut Culture’’ at that time as being “A limited 
area along the Atlantic vSlope from New York southward 
through New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, central 
Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.’’ Continuing, the 
same- publication said, “The tree endures the winter in 
favored localities near the coast as far north as Connecticut, 
Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, but has never been 
planted there except in a small way.’’ 
What was then said is still very largely correct. However, 
contrary to the construction which might be implied from the 
wording, thert; are few commercial orchards of Persian wal¬ 
nuts anywhere east of the Rockies; one, that of Mrs. J. L. 
Lovett of Emilie, Bucks County, Pa., of from fifty to seventy- 
five trees, approximately twenty years of age, is bearing fully 
as well as eould be expected under its present environment. 
The trees appear to be entirely unaffected by the severity 
of climatic conditions, but being seedlings altogether, and 
uncultivated, the crop production is irregular. Reports from 
northwestern New York and Pennsylvania indicate that this 
species may be safely grown in these sections when within the 
zones which are tempered by the influence of the Great Lakes. 
Ordinarily the trees scattered over the Eastern States do 
not seem able to permanently withstand the severe winters, 
as in most cases they are not infrequently severely frozen 
back. In eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New 
Jersey, and New York City, the writer recently inspected 
numbers of fine trees apparently from fifty to seventy-five 
years of age which showed no indications of winter injury. 
The owners seemed to be entirely ignorant of the reputation 
of the species with respect to its inability to withstand severe 
weather. 
The nuts from many of these trees were of such large size 
and good quality that a number are to be extensively propa¬ 
gated in the near future. 
The Japan Walnuts {Juglans Sieholdiana; Juglans cordi- 
jormis; Juglans mandshurica) 
These nuts are of comparatively recent introduction into 
the United States, having been brought from Asia since i860. 
All are generally hardy; the first two are rapid growers, very 
productive, and serve an excellent purpose as ornamentals, 
the last is less well known. The nuts of the former two are 
smaller than those of our native black walnut, of about 
equally thick shell, usually of no better quality, and as yet 
are not in great demand on our markets. A few trees, 
however, should certainly be given a place about the home 
grounds. 
The European Hazels {Corylus avellana; Corylus tubulosa) 
Numerous efforts have been made to introduce these 
species into the eastern states, but owing to the severit}^ of a 
blight everywhere prevalent with the American species in 
this section, such efforts have usually met with failure. 
There have been very few instances in which either speeies 
has been cultivated in the Eastern states for any great period 
of time without being destroyed by the blight. 
The future of hazel nut production in this section evidently 
depends upon the development of our native species or by 
hybridizing with some of the foreign species. 
In concluding this article, it may not be amiss to throw 
out the following suggestions as to the steps by which all may 
help in the development of the nut industry: 
(1) Ordinarily, stick to the native speeies. 
(2) Plant nuts or seedling trees only when budded or 
grafted varieties cannot be had, but do not fail to plant nut 
trees of some kind. 
(3) Whenever a tree or shrub is located whieh because of 
the superior quality, size, thinness of shell, and quantity of 
nuts appears to be worthy of propagation, specimens should 
be sent to the officers of this Association, to the state experi¬ 
ment stations, or to the U. S. Department of Agric-ulture at 
Washington, D. C., for examination. (Franks for mailing 
of such nuts to the U. S. Department of Agriculture without 
postage will be sent upon application.) 
(4) Nut trees must be accorded the same degree of 
cultivation and horticultural attention given to other fruit¬ 
bearing trees, if commercial production of nuts is to be 
expected. 
A LITTLE BUG COSTS NEW YORK STATE 
$3,000,000 A YEAR 
In an article in the current issue of Farm and Fireside, a contributor 
tells how to rid apple trees of the codling moth, and in conclusion says: 
“And how much do you suppose New York State alone pays every 
year for the privilege of having these insects live happy lives in their 
apple crop? This has been estimated at three million dollars per year; 
and if New York pays this m.uch for having wormy apples, think of 
the cost yearly to the whole United States! And all this great loss is 
entirely unnecessary. If the boys of the farm would take hold of the 
matter they might save enough fruit in this way to pay their expenses 
at some agricultural college.” 
