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NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION

REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA AUGUST 20 AND 21, 1914

CONCORD, N. H. THE RUMFORD PRESS 1915

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Officers and Committees of the Association 4

Members of the Association 5

Constitution and Rules of the Association 10

Proceedings of the Meeting held at Evansville, Indiana, August 20
and 21, 1914 11

Report of the Secretary-Treasurer 17

Proposed Score Card for Judging Nuts 20

Status and Possibilities of Nut Culture in the North,
T. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C. 23

Discussion on Cultivation and Fertilizers for Nut Trees 31

Personal Experiences with Hybridization of Nut Trees,
Dr. Robert T. Morris, New York 37

The Use of Dynamite in Tree Planting, C. D. Evans, Delaware 43

Demonstration of Grafting and Budding Nut Trees, R. L. McCoy,
Indiana, and Paul White, Indiana 47

Discussion on Seedling Trees 52

Seedling Nut Trees. The Nomenclature of Northern Pecans,
Dr. J. Russell Smith, Pennsylvania 54

Practical Suggestions on the Production of Nut Orchards,
Dr. C. A. Van Duzee, Georgia 61

The Function of the Class Journal, Ralph T. Olcott,
_Editor American Nut Journal_ 65

Discussion on Top Working Large Nut Trees 68

Report of the Committee on Nomenclature 73

Report of the Committee on Exhibits 74

Report of the Committee on Resolutions 74

Session at Enterprise 75

A Plea for the Planting of Nut Trees, Colonel C. K. Sober,
Pennsylvania 85

Discussion on the Hazel or Filbert 88

Appendix:

The History of the Persian Walnut in Pennsylvania, J. G. Rush,
Pennsylvania 93

A Comparison of Northern and Southern Conditions in the
Propagation of Nut Trees, J. F. Jones, Pennsylvania 96

Top Working Large Walnut Trees, W. C. Reed, Indiana 101

Interest in Nut Growing in the Intermountain States,
Dr. L. D. Batchelor, Utah 104

Report from G. H. Corsan, Canada 105

Distribution of Persian ("English") Walnut Seedlings in
Michigan 107

Examples of Some Recent Correspondence 109

Preliminary Report on the Persian Walnut, by the Secretary 114

Correspondents and Others Interested in Nut Culture 118

Some Recent Literature on Nuts and Nut Growing 124

Present at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Northern Nut
Growers Association 126

Annual Meeting in 1915 127

OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

_President_ J. RUSSELL SMITH University of Pennsylvania
_Vice-President_ W. C. REED Indiana
_Secretary and Treasurer_ W. C. DEMING Georgetown, Connecticut

COMMITTEES

_Executive_
T. P. LITTLEPAGE
R. T. MORRIS
AND THE OFFICERS

_Nomenclature_
W. C. REED
R. T. MORRIS
E. R. LAKE
C. A. REED
R. L MCCOY

_Membership_
W. C. DEMING
LEON D. BATCHELOR
C. H. PLUMP

_Hybrids_
R. T. MORRIS
J. R. SMITH
C. P. CLOSE

_Promising Seedlings_
T. P. LITTLEPAGE
C. A. REED
J. RUSSELL SMITH

_Press and Publication_
RALPH T. OLCOTT
T. P. LITTLEPAGE
W. C. DEMING

STATE VICE-PRESIDENTS

Arizona C. R. Biederman Garces
California Claude D. Tribble Elk Grove
Canada G. H. Corsan University of Toronto
Connecticut Newman Hungerford Torrington, R. 2, Box 76
District of Columbia T. P. Littlepage Union Trust Building, Washington
Florida H. Harold Hume Glen Saint Mary
Georgia J. B. Wight Cairo
Illinois E. A. Riehl Alton
Indiana R. L. McCoy Lake
Ireland Dr. Augustine Henry 5 Sanford Terrace,
Ranelagh, Dublin
Kentucky A. L. Moseley Calhoun
Maryland C. P. Close Department of Agriculture, Washington
Massachusetts James H. Bowditch 903 Tremont Building, Boston
Michigan H. L. Haskell 209 North Rowe St., Ludington
Minnesota C. A. Van Duzee Minneapolis
Missouri Alfred E. Johnson McBaine, R.1
New Jersey C. S. Ridgway Lumberton
New York Dr. Ira Ulman 213 West 147th St., New York City
North Carolina W. N. Hutt, State Horticulturist Raleigh
Ohio Harry R. Weber 601 Gerke Building, Cincinnati
Pennsylvania J. G. Rush West Willow
Tennessee Egbert D. Van Syckel Trenton
Utah Leon D. Batchelor, Horticulturist,
State Agricultural College Logan
Virginia John S. Parish Eastham
West Virginia B. F. Hartzell Shepherdstown

MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION

ARIZONA
C. R. Biederman, Garces

CALIFORNIA
Tribble, Claude D., Elk Grove
Tucker, T. C., Manager California Almond Growers' Exchange,
Sacramento

CANADA
Corsan, G. H., University of Toronto
Crow, J. W., Professor of Pomology, Ontario Agricultural College,
Guelph
Dufresne, Dr. A. A., 217 St. Christopher St., Montreal
Fisk, Dr. George, 101 Union Ave., Montreal
Henderson, Stuart, Victoria, British Columbia, Box 77
Saunders, W. E., 352 Clarence St., London, Ont.

CONNECTICUT
Barnes, John R., Yalesville
Deming, Dr. W. C., Georgetown
Deming, Mrs. W. C., Georgetown
Hungerford, Newman, Torrington, R. 2, Box 76
Ives, Ernest M., Sterling Orchards, Meriden
Miller, Mrs. Charles, 32 Hillside Ave., Waterbury
Morris, Dr. Robert T., Cos Cob, R. 28, Box 95
Plump, Charles H., West Redding
Pomeroy, E. C., Northville

DELAWARE
Evans, C. D., care of DuPont Powder Company, Wilmington
Lord, George Frank, care of DuPont Powder Company, Wilmington

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Close, Prof. C. P., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington
Lake, Prof. E. R., Pomologist, Department of Agriculture, Washington
+Littlepage, T. P., Union Trust Building, Washington
Kinsell, Miss Ida J., 1608 17th St., Washington
Orr, Herbert R., Evans Building, Washington
Reed, C. A., In Charge of Nut Culture Investigations, Department of
Agriculture, Washington
*Van Deman, Prof. H. E., Washington

FLORIDA
Hume, H. Harold, Glen Saint Mary
Prange, Mrs. N. M. G., Jacksonville
Simpson, Ray C., Monticello

GEORGIA
Wight, J. B., Cairo

ILLINOIS
Aldrich, H. A., Neoga
Heely, Dr. O. J., St. Libory
Poll, Carl J., 1009 Maple St., Danville
Potter, Hon. W. O., Marion
Riehl, E. A., Alton
Spencer, Henry D., Room 1, Opera House Block, Decatur
Webster, H. G., 450 Belmont Ave., Chicago

INDIANA
Baldwin, C. H., State Entomologist, 130 State House, Indianapolis
Burton, Joe A., Mitchell
Hutchings, Miss Lida G., 118 Third St., Madison
Knapp, Dr. A, J., Evansville
Lockwood, E. E., Poseyville
McCoy, R. L., Lake
Niblack, Mason J., Vincennes
Reed, M. T., Vincennes
Reed, W. C., Vincennes
Schmidt, Hugh C., Evansville
Simpson, H. D., Vincennes
Wilkinson, J. F., Rockport

IRELAND
Henry, Dr. Augustine, 5 Sanford Terrace, Ranelagh, Dublin

KENTUCKY
Matthews, Prof. C. W., Horticulturist, State Agricultural
Station, Lexington
Moseley, A. L., Bank of Calhoun, Calhoun

MARYLAND
Holmes, F. S., Agricultural Experiment Station, College Park

MASSACHUSETTS
+Bowditch, James II., 903 Tremont Building, Boston
Hoffmann, Bernhard, Overbrook Orchard, Stockbridge
Knight, Charles F., Rowley
Mason, Harry R., Falmouth
Rich, William P., Secretary State Horticultural Society,
300 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
Smith, Fred A., 39 Pine St., Danvers
Vaughan, Horace A., Peacehaven, Assonet
White, Warren, Holliston

MICHIGAN
Haskell, H. L., 209 N. Rowe St., Ludington

MINNESOTA
Powers, L. L., 1200 Lexington Ave., N. St. Paul
Van Duzee, Col. C. A., St. Paul

MISSOURI
Johnson, Alfred E., McBaine, R. 1

NEW JERSEY
Dietrick, Dr. Thomas S., 12 West Washington Ave., Washington
Foster, Samuel F., Secretary North Jersey Society for the Promotion
of Agriculture, 100 Broadway, New York City
Marston, Edwin S., Florham Park, Box 72
Mergler, C. W., Hackensack Road and Mt. Vernon St., Ridgefield Park
Putnam, J. H., Vineland
Ridgeway, C. S., "Floralia," Lumberton
Roberts, Horace, Moorestown
Steele, T. E., Pomona Nurseries, Palmyra
Walter, Dr. Harry, Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City

NEW YORK
Abbott, Frederick B., 419 Ninth St., Brooklyn
Ackerly, Orville B., 243 W. 34th St., New York City
Baker, Dr. Hugh P., Dean of State College of Forestry, Syracuse
Baker, Prof. J. Fred, Director of Forest Investigation, State College
of Forestry, Syracuse
Brown, Ronald K., 320 Broadway, New York City
Bruce, W. Robert, Brick Church Institute, Rochester
Church, Alfred W., Portchester
Ellwanger, Mrs. W. D., 510 East Ave., Rochester
Fullerton, H. B., Director Long Island Railroad Experiment Station,
Medford, L. I.
Hickox, Ralph, 3832 White Plains Ave., New York City
Hans, Amedee, Superintendent Hodenpyl Estate, Locust Valley, L. I.
Haywood, Albert, Flushing
Hicks, Henry, Westbury, L. I.
Holden, E. B., Hilton
+Huntington, A. M., 15 W. 81st St., New York City
Keeler, Charles E., Chichester and Briggs Aves., Richmond Hill
Miller, Mrs. Seaman, care of Mr. Miller, 2 Rector St., New York City
Murphy, P. J., 115 Broadway, New York City, care of Ford, Bacon &
Davis
Olcott, Ralph T., Ellwanger & Barry Building, Rochester
Pomeroy, A. C., Lockport
Reynolds, H. L., 2579 Main St., Buffalo
Rice, Mrs. Lillian McKee, Adelano, Pawling
Stephen, Prof. John W., Assistant Professor of Silviculture, State
College of Forestry, Syracuse
Storrs, A. P., 117 Front St., Owego
Teele, A. W., 30 Broad St., New York City
Teter, Walter C., 10 Wall St., New York City
Tuckerman, Bayard, 118 E. 37th St., New York City
Turner, K. M., 220 W. 42nd St., New York City
Ulman, Dr. Ira, 213 W. 147th St., New York City
Wile, Th. E., 1012 Park Ave., Rochester
Williams, Dr. Charles Mallory, 48 E. 49th St., New York City
+Wissmann, Mrs. F. deR., Westchester, New York City

NORTH CAROLINA
Glover, J. Wheeler, Morehead City
Hutt, Prof. W. N., State Horticulturist, Raleigh
Van Lindley, J., J. Van Lindley Nursery Company, Pomona

OHIO
Dayton, J. H., Storrs & Harrison Company, Painesville
Denny, Mark E., Middletown
Ford, Horatio, South Euclid
Johnston, I. B., Cincinnati, Station K
Miller, H. A., Gypsum
Rector, Dr. J. M., Columbus
Weber, Harry R., 601 Gerke Building, 123 E. 6th St., Cincinnati
Witte, O. F., Amherst
Yunck, E. G., 710 Central Ave., Sandusky

PENNSYLVANIA
Ballou, C. F., Halifax
Doan, J. L., School of Horticulture, Ambler
Druckemiller, W. C., Sunbury
Fagan, Prof. F. N., Department of Horticulture, State College
Foley, John, Forester, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 513-A,
Commercial Trust Building, Philadelphia
Hall, L. C., Avonia
Hildebrand, F. B., Duquesne
Hoopes, Wilmer W., Hoopes Brothers and Thomas Company, Westchester
Hutchinson, Mahlon, Ashwood Farm, Devon, Chester County
+Jones, J. F., Lancaster, Box 527
Keely, Royal R., 1702 Mt. Vernon St., Philadelphia
Knipe, Irwin P., Norristown
Lovett, Mrs. Joseph L., Emilie, Bucks County
Martz, Walter C., Lebanon, care of Lebanon National Bank
Meehan, S. Mendelson, Thomas Meehan & Sons, Germantown
Moss, James, Johnsville, Bucks County
Preslar, C. F., 524 Grand View Ave., Pittsburgh
Rush, J. G., West Willow
Schmidt, John C., 900 So. George St., York
Smitten, H. W., Rochester Mills, R. 2
+Sober, Col. C. K., Lewisburg
Thomas, Joseph W., Jos. W. Thomas & Sons, King of Prussia P. O.
Twaddell, E. W., Evergreen Nurseries, Westtown
Webster, Mrs. Edmund, 1324 So. Broad St., Philadelphia
Wister, John C., Wister St. and Clarkson Ave., Germantown
Wright, R. P., 235 W. 6th St., Erie

TENNESSEE
Van Syckel, Egbert D., D.D.S., Trenton

UTAH
Batchelor, Leon D., Horticulturist, Utah Agricultural College, Logan
Pendleton, M. A., 3 Mozart Apartments, Salt Lake City

VIRGINIA
Crockett, E. B., Lynchburg
Parish, John S., Eastham, Albermarle County
Roper, W. N., Arrowfield Nurseries, Petersburg
Shackford, Theodore B., care of Adams Brothers-Paynes Company,
Lynchburg
Smith, Dr. J. Russell, Roundhill
Von Ammon, S., Fontella

WEST VIRGINIA
Hartzell, B. F., Shepherdstown

+ Life member
* Honorary member

CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION

_Name_. The society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION.

_Object_. The promotion of interest in nut-producing plants, their products and their culture.

_Membership_. Membership in the society shall be open to all persons who desire to further nut culture, without reference to place of residence or nationality, subject to the approval of the committee on membership.

_Officers_. There shall be a president, a vice-president, and a secretary-treasurer; an executive committee of five persons, of which the president, vice-president and secretary shall be members; and a state vice-president from each state represented in the membership of the association.

_Election of Officers_. A committee of five members shall be elected at the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for the subsequent year.

_Meetings_. The place and time of the annual meeting shall be selected by the membership in session or, in the event of no selection being made at this time, the executive committee shall choose the place and time for the holding of the annual convention. Such other meetings as may seem desirable may be called by the president and executive committee.

_Fees_. The fees shall be of two kinds, annual and life. The former shall be two dollars, the latter twenty dollars.

_Discipline_. The committee on membership may make recommendations to the association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member.

_Committees_. The association shall appoint standing committees of three members each to consider and report on the following topics at each annual meeting: first, on promising seedlings; second, on nomenclature; third, on hybrids; fourth, on membership; fifth, on press and publication.

Northern Nut Growers Association

FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING

AUGUST 20 AND 21, 1914

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

The fifth annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association was held in the Evansville Business Association Hall at Evansville, Indiana, beginning August 20, 1914, at 10 A. M., President Littlepage presiding.

THE PRESIDENT: The fifth annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association will now come to order, and I have the pleasure of introducing to you Dr. Worsham who represents the Mayor of Evansville.

DR. WORSHAM: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Northern Nut Growers Association:

Some men are born to greatness and others have it thrust upon them. I stand in the position this morning of a man that has had his greatness thrust upon him. The secretary of the Evansville Business Association, who frequently takes liberties with me, told me a few minutes ago that, in the absence of our Mayor, I was to welcome you.

We extend to you a most cordial welcome to our thriving city. We are always glad to have associations of this kind meet with us, because they bring to us new ideas and new thoughts.

As I looked upon those nuts this morning my mind returned to the time when I was a boy, when my father, although a splendid business man who took advantage of most of the opportunities that presented themselves to him, neglected one of the best he had in selling one hundred and twenty-five acres of land across the Ohio River here, upon which there grow a number of native pecans. The only time we ever had any pecans from that place was when we got a German over there, direct from Germany. He couldn't speak a word of the English language but my father said to him, "Keep the boys out and get some pecans." He went down there with a dog and a gun and we got more nuts that year than ever before or since.

This city has the distinction, as I have learned since I came into the hall, of being the center of the nut growing district of the northwest. Another honor that our splendid city has. As you know we are here in the largest hardwood lumber market in the world; we have the cheapest and best coal of any place in the world; we have the greatest river facilities of any city along the Ohio River; we have six main arteries of railroad into our city, so it is easy to manufacture, easy to ship and easy to dispose of the products of our business in this grand, beautiful and well situated city.

Now gentlemen, remember that Dr. Worsham's telephone is 213, that I am representing the Mayor and Business Men's Association, and that we are perfectly delighted to have you with us. I hope you will have a good time. I thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Robert T. Morris will respond first to Dr. Worsham and afterwards Mr. Potter.

DR. MORRIS: Mr. Chairman, Representatives of the Business Men's Association, Ladies and Gentlemen: In Chicago, I met an Englishman who told me he was going to "Hevansville." I did not know just where he meant but after hearing Dr. Worsham's speech, I understand.

This is no doubt one of the coming cities of the world. You have here the field that was fought for by the early settlers and the Indians, and the field that is to be the scene of many wars in days to come.

In the days to come, perhaps a thousand years from now, there may be four or five people to the acre living under conditions of intensive cultivation. This is just the sort of land that will support a population to the best advantage, and you have here conditions suitable for the crop that is to be the crop of the future. People do not fully utilize nature's resources until there is need for doing so. We have depended upon the cereals and the soft fruits and things of that sort, just as the early Indian depended upon the deer and the beaver. The time came when his beaver and his deer disappeared. We, like the Indian, take up first the development of simplest things in plant life. Later, under intensive cultivation, we shall be enabled to support a very much larger population on fewer acres.

We find that nuts contain starch and proteids in such proportion that they will fairly well take the place of meats and of other starches.

Now, this is not an opinion which is individual alone, but is the conclusion of authorities after examination of data. Chemical examination of nuts has been made by our Department of Agriculture at Washington and by chemists elsewhere. The nut crop, then, is to be perhaps the staple food crop for the people of the United States one thousand years from now, when we are depending upon methods of intensive cultivation for the annual plants.

It is true, of course, that three thousand years before Christ, the Emperor Yu developed in China a system of agriculture that is better than any European or American system today both as to production and transportation--perhaps including distribution. At the present time China is supporting a larger population to the acre than any other country.

All this comes to mind in response to the address of welcome by Dr. Worsham. Here at this point of our United States, there is already a center of the new movement for the development of the great future food supply of the world, a nut nursery center. Here we find also another feature of great consequence from the economic and politic side. We find honest nurserymen. That is a very important matter. As nations advance in culture the moral side develops, and as the ethical side develops there will be better representatives in the trades and in all callings. The nursery business is near to nature and for that reason simple people have assumed that nurserymen were nearly as white as snow. Those of us who have had some experience with them, know what it means to find honest ones. We deeply appreciate the fact that in this part of the country honest nurserymen are making a name for themselves and for America.

I know Evansville not only in this way that I have been speaking of but also in a professional way because of its doctors. There are two or three or four of the Evansville doctors--you do not know that as members of this Association, but I know it as a member of our great profession--who have placed Evansville upon the map. This city is best known throughout the United States in the medical profession because of some three or four Evansville doctors of the present and past.

Therefore it is with a double pleasure that I respond to the address of welcome given by Dr. Worsham.

THE PRESIDENT: We will now hear from Hon. W. O. Potter of Marion, Illinois.

MR. POTTER: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: This meeting to me is something out of the ordinary. I can remember that when I was a boy I knew every good hickory nut tree in the community where I was raised, but after I left my native heath and went into the practice of law and got into politics, I forgot all about the hickory trees until just a few years ago when, by accident, I picked up a nut journal. I don't know how it came into my possession but I got it and I read some article on the Indiana pecan, and I read an article on the development of nut trees in the south, and I got interested and commenced studying the subject. I wrote to the Department of Agriculture and got some articles on nut culture from Mr. Reed and others and became still more interested.

However, nut culture doesn't mix well with politics or law, and, therefore, it is more or less of a side issue with me. I have gone into nut culture only on a small scale. On my lot in the city of Marion where I live I have set out some pecan trees, and after a hard battle in court all day it is quite a pleasure to get home in the evening and to pull off my coat and to get on some old clothes and go out among my trees. There is nothing better to get one's mind off the daily combat of life.

I was very much impressed with Dr. Worsham's address of welcome and also Dr. Morris's response. I believe that this country is beginning a new era; we are going to experience a metamorphosis. I think we will shed this old shell, take on a new dress and start afresh.

I presume it is here as in Illinois where I was raised. Our farmers came from the south principally, and about all they knew of farming in those early days was to raise corn and some tobacco, but mostly, through our section, corn, and in a few years they corned the land to death. You can go through our country and see old hillsides red with clay and farmers barely eking out an existence. Those people will never be much better off than they are now, but as they pass off and the newer generation comes on, departments of agriculture and horticulture will be organized in the universities, where it has not already been done, and the farmers will be a class of people right up to date. Modern civilization tends to drive the sons back to the farm and that is overdone sometimes. People think they want to go to farming when they don't. We ought not to take up this idea "back to the farm" too largely at once but gradually grow into it. I know what it is to be on the farm and work hard day after day; there is no chance for us under the old conditions; but in higher forms of agriculture or horticulture the American people will find the greatest benefits and pleasures. It gets monotonous for a man who has a profession to stick to that all the time, day in and day out without change, week in and week out, year in and year out, and he gets to driving in a rut. If he will take up a side line it will do him much good. I have gone into nut growing for recreation, not profit, and I think it is an occupation most conducive to a strong mind and a healthy body.

This country is getting to a point where we are going to have more producers. We have too many consumers in this country. We talk about the tariff and whether it raises or lowers the price of articles. That is neither here nor there. The thing that will control the prices of foods is the amount of food produced. As Dr. Morris said awhile ago we don't need so much meat as we used to think we needed nor so many other kinds of foods. All the food elements that keep man alive and his body in a healthy condition are contained in nuts, fruits and things of that character, and this to a great extent will eliminate the need for meats. Meat is getting scarce and high. Beef steaks and pork chops are a great deal higher than they formerly were and some of us who are not making as much money in our professions as we need will have to find something else to take the place of them. It seems to me that the solution of the problem is in the production of nuts. The peanut is being manufactured in a great many ways and we are using them on our tables daily, and it will only be a few years when the pecan will be fixed up in as many different ways.

The hickory nut I think is another great nut of this country and great attention ought to be paid to it. Its culture is still in its infancy. I believe that in a few years the hickory nut and pecan will help solve the food problem.

I would not know how to graft any kind of a tree. What trees I need I buy from some good responsible nurseryman and let him do the work of grafting.

I am glad to be a member of this association, although this is the first meeting I have ever attended. I get a lot of enthusiasm from the other members and I have had lots of information from being a member of this association.

I want to thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for listening to my remarks which I had no thought of making. What I have said has been at random.

DR. MORRIS: When I was speaking a minute ago I left out one idea that is clever, and I want to get it in although it belongs to Professor Smith. When we get to the point of intensive cultivation we are to have the two-story farm. We will have the tree which will be the second story and will furnish our meat, and underneath we will have our small crops. In that way we will have a two-story farm.

THE PRESIDENT: That is a very good idea, Dr. Morris, and I am glad you got it in. We are very glad to have the remarks by Dr. Morris and Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter has been in the legislature and we are pleased to know that there is one member of a legislature in the United States who does not know how to graft.

MR. POTTER: I am sorry you said that. I wish you had left that out. I was there when Lorimer was elected.

THE PRESIDENT: There is nothing that would cure a legislature of grafting quicker than horticulture.

The chair desires to make an announcement of the program. This morning, there will be the usual talks and papers. We will adjourn at 12 o'clock and meet again at 1 o'clock for the afternoon session until 5 o'clock, at which time the members of the Association and visitors are invited by some of the citizens to take an automobile ride to see the city and the different industries, which I am sure we will all be glad to do. This evening at 8 o'clock there will by a lecture by Mr. C. A. Reed of the Department of Agriculture and he will us show one of the best collections of lantern slides in existence. Everybody is invited, whether members of the Association or not, including the ladies and children.

Tomorrow morning at 7:15 we will take the Rockport traction car here, getting off at Sandale, at which place we will be met by wagons and we will go to Enterprise where you will see a great number of seedling pecan trees of all ages. They are bearing, the limbs hanging down close to the ground, and there will be an excellent opportunity to see the nuts on the trees at close range.

A gasoline boat will meet us at Enterprise between 12 and 1 and we will return to Evansville tomorrow evening, via the river, stopping at proper points, and be in session again at 8 o'clock, finishing up the business of the Association with a lecture by Col. C. K. Sober of Pennsylvania, the great chestnut producer. He has a great many lantern slides and will tell you many things of interest. He is one man who is working earnestly and tirelessly to combat the chestnut blight.

The next thing on the program this morning will be the report of the secretary of the Association, Dr. W. C. Deming.

THE SECRETARY: I have the honor to report as follows:

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER

Deficit, date of last report $105.05

Expenses:
Washington meeting 10.46
Reporting convention 45.00
Printing report 217.58
Miscellaneous printing 23.25
Postage and stationery 42.84
Membership A. P. S. 2.00
Stenographer and multigraphing 7.20
Express, carting, freight 3.36
Exchange on checks .90
Telephone .25
-------- $457.89

Receipts:
Dues $273.00
Postage 5.07
Advertisements 69.05
Contributions 104.00
Sale of report 4.00
Bills receivable 10.00
-------- $465.12
Balance on hand $7.23

It was necessary to take out a membership in the American Pomological Society in order to be eligible to receive the bronze Wilder medal awarded for meritorious exhibit of nuts at the Washington convention.

In response to an appeal sent out by the secretary for assistance in defraying the expenses of publishing the report, thirteen members contributed. There was one contribution of fifty dollars, one of twenty-five dollars, several of five dollars and others of lesser sums.

Two advertisements are still not paid for.

It is evident that the income of the association from regular sources is not at present sufficient to pay the expense of printing the annual report, in addition to the necessary expenses of maintenance. It may be possible to reduce the expense of printing the report by omitting cuts and by printing a smaller number of reports, though the saving from the latter expedient would be small.

It seems to be the opinion of some of our members, and it is certainly a good business principle, that we should not undertake the issuing of an annual report until the funds for paying for it are in hand. I would renew my suggestion of last year that a proper committee be authorized to take measures for collecting the funds necessary for this purpose. During the past year a few of the members voluntarily constituted themselves a committee and succeeded in collecting a considerable sum from advertisements which appeared in the report.

It would certainly be a pity to interrupt the regular appearance of the report of our annual meeting.

Seventy-five new members were added during the year, or rather during the nine months elapsed since the meeting at Washington. Since the organisation of the Association 212 persons have become members. We have now 132 paid-up members. I feel certain that some of those who have not paid up do not desire to sever their connection with the Association. There have been but three resignations, one of whom gave as his reason "persistent knocking by members of the Association of pecan promotions in the South." No death among our members have come to the secretary's knowledge.

Many new members came in at the Washington meeting. A number of others joined as a result of the publicity given the Association by several articles from the pen of one of the members which appeared in various publications. A still larger number appeared to be attracted by the offer which the secretary took upon himself to make, of the two first reports as a premium for new members on the payment simply of the postage for forwarding them. This action of the secretary was generally approved by the members of the executive committee, though there was some criticism from one or two members of the Association. But it seemed to the secretary better to make this attraction for new members, and to get out the reports where they might do some good, rather than to have so many of them sagging the beams in his attic. The secretary would suggest that in the future he be authorized to offer a complete set of the reports to all new life members, and to other new members the opportunity to buy the back reports at a reduced sum, say 50 cents, or even 25 cents each. This would give a little income toward the expenses of the Association. The copies of our reports are assets and should be realized on.

The field meeting held at the farm of Dr. Robert T. Morris at Stamford, Connecticut, on August 4 was well attended and was instructive and enjoyable. A full account of the meeting will appear in the _American Nut Journal_.

The recent establishment of this journal, partly through the efforts of members of the Association, is a cause for congratulation. We have once more a high class and attractive monthly periodical in which to exchange experiences and by which the public may be reached. Every member of the Association should feel a personal interest in making this journal a success and should seek the opportunity to send to the editor any items of interest to nut growers. Anything relating to this subject is of interest to the enthusiast. The more personal such a journal is made the better. It should not be monopolized by the so-called experts. Everyone interested in nut growing ought to feel it a duty, and consider it a privilege, to communicate scraps of information, little suggestions and, above all, questions and requests for information and advice. Even a little controversy would add spice. Too much harmony becomes insipid. This journal is as much for scrappers as for the men of peace. And, let me quickly add, the women too, suffragists, suffragettes, and antis and those who don't care. Twelve women are members of the Association and women are going to take a large share in nut growing and find in it a profitable and interesting occupation.

Arrangements are being made with the publishers of the _American Nut Journal_ whereby membership in our Association may include subscription to the _Journal_ at a very small increase in the cost of membership. If we can offer membership and the _Journal_ for $2.50 in advance and the back reports for 50 cents apiece, or the three reports for $1, and send notice of this to our list of about a thousand correspondents, we ought to increase considerably our membership and do good to the world.

Our rule that membership shall begin with the calendar year always gives rise to some misunderstanding. Those who come in at the time of the annual meeting, or between it and the end of the year, do not like to pay another fee along in January. If there is no objection the secretary will hereafter inform each applicant for membership that membership expires with the calendar year, that membership may be taken out for the present or the coming year, and that membership entitles necessarily only to the publications issued during the year for which membership is taken out. In other words the proceedings of this meeting will be published in 1915 and members for 1914 will not be entitled to it unless paid up for 1915.

The investigation of the Persian walnut trees in the East is still going on but the results have not been collated.

I suggest the appointment of a committee to revise our constitution and rules. These have so far served our purpose fairly well but, in the opinion of the secretary, they now need modification and amplification.

I would recall to the attention of the members our present rule that all papers read before it are the property of the Association.

In conclusion the secretary would like to ask each member to help increase the prosperity and the usefulness of the Association by getting new members, by getting advertisements for the annual report, and by paying his annual dues promptly. It is a waste of any nut grower's time to have to dun a lot of careless people.

THE PRESIDENT: The chair will now entertain a motion to approve the secretary's report.

PROFESSOR SMITH: The Northern Nut Growers Association has been very fortunate in many things and especially in its selection of a secretary. The services he has so faithfully rendered are very much appreciated by the Association, and I move the report be accepted.

[Seconded and carried. Also moved, seconded and carried that the secretary be authorized to sell back numbers of the reports at a reduced price.]

DR. VAN DUZEE: I would like to say that a most important thing has been overlooked, and that is that the chair should appoint a committee to lift the load of financing the work of the Association from the secretary's shoulders.

THE PRESIDENT: It is very flattering to suggest that the chair is competent to appoint that committee. Do you make it in the form of a motion, Dr. Van Duzee?

DR. VAN DUZEE: Yes sir, I make that as a motion.

[Seconded and carried.]

Professor Close read the following report on score cards prepared by Prof. E. R. Lake of the committee.

PROPOSED SCORE CARDS FOR JUDGING NUTS

_Score-Card (Plates, Trays or Cartons)--Black Walnuts, Butternuts and Hickorynuts_

General Values:
Size 10
Form 5
Color 5

Shell Values:
Thinness 15
Cracking 20

Kernal Values:
Plumpness 5
Color 10
Flavor 10
Quality 20
---
100

Note: For insect or fungous injuries deduct 5-10 points.

_Score-Cards--Chestnuts_

General Values:
Size 20
Form 5
Color 10
Freedom from fuzz 10
Size of basal scar 10

Kernal Values:
Flavor 10
Quality of kernal 25
Thinness and quality of inner skin 10
-----
100

Note: For insect or fungous injuries deduct 5-20 points.

_Score-Card--Filberts_

General Values:
Size 15
Form 5
Color 5

Shell Values:
Thinness 15

Kernal Values:
Plumpness 10
Freedom from fibre 10
Color 5
Flavor 15
Quality 20
----
100

Note: For insect or fungous injuries deduct 5-10 points.

_Commercial Pecans_

General Values:
Size 20
Form 5
Color 5

Shell Values:
Thinness of shell 10
Cracking quality 20

Kernal Values:
Plumpness of kernal 20
Color of kernel 5
Quality 15
----
100

_Score-Card (Plates)--Persian Walnuts_

General Value:
Size 10
Form 10
Color 10

Shell Values:
Thinness of shell 10
Smoothness of shell 5
Sealing 10

Kernal Values:
Plumpness 5
Color 10
Flavor (sweetness, nuttyness) 10
Quality (crispness, richness) 20
----
100

Note: For insect or fungous injuries deduct 5-15 points.

* * * * *

DR. MORRIS: I would say that this is a very excellent system as a basis for judging. We must at all times have in mind the idea of working to keep the quality very high. The reason for that is because the tendency has been in the other direction. Appearance has been rated very high, especially on the Pacific Coast, which is one of the centers in nut raising today. I observed, while on a trip from southern California to Washington and Oregon, that people all spoke about the beauty of the nuts, and said little of quality. They will show you great, handsome, bleached nuts, and some of the very poorest in quality are the ones about which they talk the most, and they recognize this fact among themselves. I haven't been looked upon with favor when telling them frankly that a certain walnut ought not to be put on the market at all on account of its quality. They resented that attitude on my part, but later when I was standing nearby I overheard rival walnut growers talking to each other. One said to another, "That is a handsome walnut, but you will have to hire an awful good talker to get it on the market." They resented my criticism and my judgment but among themselves said, "You have got to have an awful good talker to get that nut on the market."

It is this matter of quality that must stand first among nuts as among men. Many know that there is no better pecan than the San Saba. That is standard for quality, yet it is not regarded as being so desirable as some of the others because of its small size. We must always keep in mind the quality rather than size and appearance. Of course, we like things that look well but that side will be taken care of incidentally in the course of the development of the subject.

PROFESSOR SMITH: Dr. Morris, I should like to ask you a few questions. Is it not the same as it is in the apple and peach market? You know in that appearance counts for a great deal. Are you sufficiently acquainted with the subject to say we will be safe in growing a nut that is second class in appearance but first class in quality?

DR. MORRIS: I am glad Professor Smith brought up that point. There is just one way to approach the matter. Take a fine, handsome, large English walnut, that has been bleached, and has lost quality in the process. Growers have gone to a great deal of trouble to get it on the market. Put alongside of it a small, thin-shelled, high quality walnut that has not been bleached, and tell the dealer who is to sell those two nuts that the great big handsome nut is to sell for 15 cents a pound, and the ugly little one is to bring 30 cents a pound. That will attract the attention of people to the good nuts. You can force people into having good sense, through the exercise of a bit of dexterity in applied psychology.

THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Morris's remarks are very well taken, because nuts are to be eaten and not to be looked at. Is there any further discussion on this subject? If not, we will pass to the next.

THE SECRETARY: The next thing on the program is the appointment of committees. The advisability of amending the constitution and rules has been already referred to. They have served our purpose pretty well up to now but we have outgrown them. In order to expedite matters and get to the real business of this Association, as this constitution is going to be amended anyway, I would like to move that the rules about the appointment of committees be suspended and that the chair be authorized to appoint the necessary committees. This includes the committees which the rules direct shall be elected, but that takes a long time and I move that the chair appoint these different committees.

THE PRESIDENT: Do I hear a second to that motion?

A MEMBER: I second the motion.

THE PRESIDENT: It has been moved and seconded that the rules requiring that these committees be elected be suspended, and the chair be authorized to appoint the different committees. The chair holds that it will take three fourths of the members present to suspend the rules. Is there any discussion about this?

MEMBERS: We are ready for the question.

THE PRESIDENT: All in favor of the motion made by Dr. Deming, make it known by saying aye.

[Vote taken.]

THE PRESIDENT: Those opposed, by the same sign.

[None.]

THE PRESIDENT: The motion is carried that the chair appoint the different committees, and they will be announced at the proper time.

The next thing on the program is a paper by the President. I will ask Dr. Morris to take the chair while I read what I have to say.

STATUS AND POSSIBILITIES OF NUT CULTURE IN THE NORTH

T. P. LITTLEPAGE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

The purpose of the Northern Nut Growers Association is to stimulate the production of nuts in the North. We distinguish the North from the South in this regard not because we feel any less interest in the nut industry in the South. The man who once becomes a nut enthusiast is no respecter of Mason's and Dixon's Line or any other line that separates him from an interesting nut tree or from a section in which nuts may be successfully grown. His local interest, however, will naturally be around his own dooryard and neighborhood. So we speak of northern nut culture and northern nut trees because we live in the North and because this is the section of the United States that needs at the present time the most intelligent direction. The South has been forging ahead for a number of years in this field. In fact, pecan culture promises to become second only to the cotton industry in many sections of that country and interest in its possibilities has attracted to it many conscientious, able and prominent horticulturists who are today engaged in pecan growing in the South and who are doing much to put the pecan industry on an honest and intelligent basis. These men have become specialists in the pecan industry and they know more about it than we do in the North. Consequently they do not need our assistance, even if we were able to give it, and, therefore, without any fear of our being criticised for using the adjective "northern" we can limit our investigations and discussions to nut culture in the northern part of the United States with a full knowledge that our southern brethren can take care of themselves, and, in addition, can render us much valuable assistance which assistance we most cheerfully invite.

At this point, however, in connection with the use of the terms "northern" and "southern," it may be relevant to make a few observations as to the possibilities in either section. While it is true that the South has a long start of the North in pecan culture, yet the North affords an opportunity for the cultivation of nuts which is not possible in the South. The South is today the home of the delicious varieties of pecan which are a delight to the consumer and a source of fascination and profit to the intelligent producer, but it must be remembered that the northern pecan belt has many excellent varieties that are "good enough." In addition to this, the North is the home of the black walnut, the fine shagbark hickory, the butternut, the chestnut, the hazel-nut, and the chinkapin, and is also adapted to the hardy varieties of the English and Japanese walnuts. All of the nuts just named certainly offer an ample field for our interest and enthusiasm, and, in addition to the keen delight which comes from the successful growing of these trees, there is a possibility of profit which I do not think is excelled in any horticultural undertaking today.

First then, what word of advice or instruction can the Northern Nut Growers Association bring to the prospective nut grower which will be of help? For, after all, the success or failure of this association depends largely upon its ability to help the grower or prospective grower. Before we undertake to give suggestions about the development and culture of nut orchards or to make prophecies as to possibilities, let us stop and take stock for a moment of the present status of the nut industry in the North and consider what we have to build upon and what materials we have with which to work. Mistakes have been made in the past by the prospective nut growers because they did not stop to consider the possibilities of the nuts that were native in their own locality, but looked abroad for something else. This is characteristic of many people. "Distant fields look green," and, of all the imported nut trees, none except the English walnut have been of any success here whatever, while, in one instance at least, their importation has resulted in introducing into this country the fatal chestnut blight, which probably came in on uninspected stock from Japan. We have better native chestnuts in this country than any foreign chestnut and the blunder of trying to get something different is costing the country millions of dollars through the scourge of the chestnut blight, which threatens to wipe out the industry. It reminds me of the epitaph on the tombstone which read: "I was well and wanted to be better, took medicine and here I am." Therefore, let us consider what nuts we have worth while.

_The Pecan_

First, we have the northern pecan which is native in certain portions of a belt approximately 150 miles wide, with Evansville, Indiana, on the 38th parallel, as the center. I do not mean to say that the pecan will succeed in all portions of the northern half of this belt or that it may not succeed in many sections farther north. The question of climate, as modified by proximity to oceans and large bodies of water or as made more rigid by absence of these protections, may decrease or increase the latitude at which the pecan can be successfully grown. The orange, for instance, is one of the tenderest fruits and yet, on the western coast, orange groves are flourishing at the same latitude as Philadelphia, which is nearly on the 40th parallel, although it is unnecessary to say that an orange grove would not survive within four or five hundred miles of the 40th parallel any place else except on the favored western coast. The southern varieties of pecans will not flourish in the north and we do not know whether the northern varieties will flourish in the South.

The pecan is a hickory and the northern trees are very hardy and thrifty. Many varieties have been discovered the last few years which are thought to be worthy of propagating. Among them are the "Indiana" and "Busseron," from near Oaktown, Knox County, Indiana; the "Niblack," from Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana; the "Warrick," "Green River," "Major," "Kentucky," and "Posey," all from the Evansville section; the "Norton" from Clarksville, Missouri, and several other varieties.

_English Walnut_

The next most important nut, and probably competing very closely with the pecan for popular favor, is the English walnut, which is perhaps the only nut that has been successfully imported for growing. Since the earliest Colonial days, seedling nuts have been brought from France, Germany and other parts of Europe and have been planted up and down the Atlantic Coast. Most of the trees from these plantings have not been able to permanently withstand climatic conditions, but, scattered here and there throughout the North and East, are individual trees of apparent hardiness which bear nuts in size and quality comparing favorably with the English walnuts we see on the market. Among the various hardy varieties of the English walnut are the "Rush" and "Nebo," from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, introduced by Mr. J. G. Rush, the pioneer propagator in the Eastern States. Another is the "Hall" from the shores of Lake Erie, the "Pomeroy" from Lockport, N. Y., a short distance from Niagara Falls; the "Rumford" from Wilmington, Del.; the "Ridgway" from Lumberton, N. J.; the "Holden" from Hilton, N. Y.; the "Boston" from Massachusetts; the "Potomac," "Barnes" and "Weaver" from Washington, D. C.; and a number of other varieties. The location of the parent trees just named will give some idea of the probable hardiness of these varieties.

_Shagbark Hickory_

The thin-shelled shagbark hickory is a nut that is coming more and more into favor and is well worthy of propagation. The first shagbark recognized as a distinct variety was the "Hales," located and named by Henry Hales of Ridgwood, N. J., about 1874. This is a very large, attractive, thin-shelled nut, but has been somewhat superseded by other and superior shagbarks. Dr. Robert T. Morris of New York has been making a systematic search for several years for trees bearing shagbarks of high quality and merit, and has been very successful in bringing a number of such nuts to public attention, including the "Taylor" and "Cook." The "Swaim" from South Bend, Ind., is an excellent shagbark; the "Weiker," from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; the "Kirtland," from New England; the "Rice," from Illinois; and another very superior and fine shagbark from northern Kentucky which was brought to public attention by R. L. McCoy of Lake, Ind.

_Black Walnuts_

Throughout the whole north are tens of thousands of seedling black walnuts, many of which are of excellent quality, but, so far as is known, there are but two recognized varieties, the "Thomas," introduced during the eighties and propagated to a limited extent, and another from Lamont, Mich.

_Butternut_

The butternut is also quite common in much of the same territory as is the black walnut and even in regions farther north, but, so far as I have knowledge, not a single variety has been named.

_Japanese Walnuts_

Seedlings of two species of Japanese walnuts are quite common along the Atlantic Coast and as far inland as the Mississippi River. They are also grown on the Pacific Coast to some extent, but apparently no varieties have been recognized.

Another nut which is confused with the Japanese walnut is botanically known as Juglans Mandshurica. In character of growth the tree quite resembles the Japanese species, but the nut resembles more our American butternut and sometimes they are confused. A short time ago a gentleman in New Jersey who had planted some nuts of the Japanese varieties later cut down the mature trees because he thought they were American butternuts.

_Hazel-nuts_

It is never safe to use the term "hazel" without explaining that it correctly applies also to the species brought from Europe and more commonly called filberts. According to the late Mr. Fuller, the Germans discriminated between hazels and filberts entirely by the shape of the husk. A nut having a husk which extended and came together beyond the end of the nut was called filbert, meaning beard. Those having shorter and more open husks, so that the nut protruded, were called hazels after the German word "hassel,"--hood, in English. It will readily be seen that once the nuts were separated from the husks, it would be impossible by their classification to determine whether they were hazels or filberts. The Americans generally accept the use of the term hazel to apply to both the American and European species.

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