Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty Fourth Annual Meeting
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Northern Nut Growers Association >> Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty Fourth Annual Meeting
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=Butternuts=
Claude Mitchell, Scotland, Ont. 1st $10.00
M. E. Alverson, Howard City, Mich. 2nd $ 5.00
Frank Luther, Fairgrove, Mich. 3rd $ 3.00
=Heartnuts=
Claude Mitchell, Scotland, Ont. 1st $10.00
Fred Bourne, Milford, Mich. 2nd $ 5.00
J. U. Gellatly, Gellatly, B. C. 3rd $ 3.00
=Chestnuts (Hybrids)=
John Dunbar, Oshtemo, Mich. 1st $10.00
D. N. Dean, Shelbyville, Mich. 2nd $ 5.00
J. W. Jockett, Hart, Mich. 3rd $ 3.00
=Jap. Walnuts=
Harold English, Chatham, Ont. 1st $10.00
Harold Evers, Petoskey, Mich. 2nd $ 5.00
Bob Cardinell 3rd $ 3.00
If and when another contest is held a larger number of prizes will be
given provided sufficient funds are available. The experience gained in
the 1929 and 1932 contests indicates the desirability of holding at
least three contests and five would be better, and to have the contests
held annually. It is very difficult to advertise a nut contest so that
every person in rural sections knows of it and moreover, even if it were
thoroughly advertised in any one year, it would not be possible to get
nuts from all good trees because of the irregularity in fruiting habit
of nut trees. The experience of others who stage contests will
substantiate this opinion.
It is a great satisfaction to record the discovery of some promising
pecan trees near Vandalia on the farm of Clyde Westphal. These trees
were reported to me by Mr. Harry Burgart of Union City, and at the first
opportunity I went with Mr. Burgart to examine the trees. There are 19
trees in the grove and the largest and best fruited tree is about 45
feet tall and nearly one foot in diameter at the base. The nuts are of
medium size, crack easily, and contain kernels of good quality. A good
crop was borne last year and other satisfactory crops have been secured
for several years. It is quite likely that this tree would not mature
nuts in a short growing season or in a season of low heat units, but the
fact that it has done so well in recent years in growth and nut
production is very encouraging, indeed. Plans are being made to
propagate this strain.
Another good pecan sample was received from Mr. B. B. Dowell of
Paulding, Ohio. This tree is hardy and produces nuts slightly larger
than the Westphal tree. The nuts have good cracking quality and flavor
of kernel and are worth propagating for northern regions.
Propagation
The propagation of selected strains of nut trees is not primarily the
function of an Experiment Station, with the exception of such work as
may be necessary to establish on Station property a sufficient number of
trees to furnish scionwood for experimental purposes and to supply
interested parties with what they require. We believe that nut tree
nurserymen should undertake the propagation of new varieties of proven
merit and we have endeavored to furnish our local nurserymen and others
with scionwood of our best native selections or introductions. Such
propagation as we have done is with established trees and can properly
be considered as top-working. This feature of our project is discussed
under that heading.
Topworking
Our programme of top-working was carried on in 1933 to the full extent
of time and funds available and a special effort was made to top-work
some of the worthless pignuts and bitternuts with scions of hicans and
hybrid hickories. In a former report, reference was made to the
difficulty in grafting shagbark and shellbark scions onto pignuts; and
here again I want to say my first observation still holds especially
with the shagbarks. I do not have a single shagbark scion left on
pignuts out of several hundred set during the last four seasons.
Our results with hybrid hickories and with hicans have been much
more encouraging in so far as the set of scions and growth is
concerned. The following varieties have done well on the pignut or
bitternut--Burlington, Beaver, Cedar Rapids, Creager, Dennis, Des
Moines, Fairbanks, Kirtland, Laney, Lingenfelter, McCallister,
Stratford, and Shinnerling. It is definitely known that most of these
varieties are of hybrid origin with the exception of Cedar Rapids and
Kirtland. The buds of the variety I have labelled as Cedar Rapids do not
look like pure shagbarks and it is possible that a mix up has occurred
in the labels.
A satisfactory start was made in propagating the prize-winning shagbark
hickories of our 1932 contest and further work will be done with these
kinds in the present season.
Good progress has been made in propagating our best varieties of black
walnuts, English walnuts, and Chinese walnuts. We now have several trees
some of which are quite large that have been top-worked to scions of
Wiard, Allen, Grundy, Rowher, Ohio, Creitz, Carpenter, and Stambaugh
black walnuts. In English walnuts we have Carpathian No. 1, 2, and
5--Crath, McDermid, and Broadview. This latter variety is above the
average in size, cracks easily and has a good kernel. Still more
important it is believed to be hardy and is definitely known to have
endured 25 deg. below zero F. This variety was sent by Mr. J. U. Gellatly,
our enthusiastic nut tree hunter from British Columbia. Mr. Gellatly has
brought to light a considerable number of heartnuts and a few English
walnuts. One of his latest finds is an English walnut that produces very
large almost round thin shelled nuts. This tree grows on high bench land
near Okanogun, B. C. and is a seedling of a tree growing in the high
altitudes of Kashmir in Northern India. Some of the heartnuts sent by
Mr. Gellatly are amongst the largest I have ever seen and possess good
cracking and extraction qualities. Scions of these varieties have been
ordered from Mr. Gellatly and we hope to establish at least one good
tree of each kind as a source of propagating material. We also have
several grafts of an excellent Chinese walnut which we obtained from Mr.
George Corsan of Islington, Ontario. This variety bears a large nut with
a thin well sealed shell and a first-class kernel, and has been named
Corsan.
New Plantings
The planting programme for 1933 included the planting of about 40 acres
on the Collver part of the Kellogg Farm near Augusta, but this had to be
reduced by 50% because of financial troubles caused by the closing of
the banks in which Mr. Kellogg was a depositor. In addition to the new
plantings a considerable number of replacements had to be made
particularly in the chestnut groves. The following table shows the
number of each species and variety planted:
(a) Black Walnuts
Variety Number
Allen 2
Wessell 5
Thomas 20
Beck 2
Bohamin 2
Edras 3
Grundy 3
Homeland 3
Howell 2
Grabill 2
Hauber 1
Heplar 3
Mintle 2
Patuxent 7
Ruddick 1
Stanley 1
Tasterite 1
Stover 1
Worthington 1
McMillen 1
Hunter 1
Birds Eye 15
Carpenter 10
Miller 5
Ten Ecyk 10
Ohio 10
Stabler 15
(b) Chinese Walnut
Seedlings 20
(c) English Walnut
Seedlings (Crath) 21
Alpine 10
Mayette 10
(d) Butternuts
Seedlings 50
Hickories
(a) Hybrids
Stratford 5
(b) Shagbark
Glover 5
Romig 3
(c) Shellbark
Stephens 2
(d) Pecans
Indiana 1
Niblack 4
Greenriver 5
Kentucky 5
Butterick 6
Posey 5
Carlyle 3
Jeffrey 3
Seedlings 50
(e) Hicans
Des Moines 7
Gerrardi 5
Burlington 4
Wright 3
Burton 2
Norton 2
Hazels
(a) Turkish Hazels
Seedlings 40
(b) Jones Hybrids
Seedlings 14
(c) Corylus Vilmorinii
Seedlings 1
Chestnuts
(a) Chinese
Seedlings 251
(b) Japanese
Seedlings 20
Good results were secured with all of the above mentioned kinds except
the Chinese and Japanese chestnuts. The reason for this failure is given
elsewhere in this report.
Demonstration Work on Grafting
This feature of our programme has not received as much attention as
should be given to it owing to lack of scionwood of local origin and to
a desire to work over nearly all the trees on the Kellogg Farm before
attempting much outside work. We now have a fair supply of scionwood on
our station trees and are in a position to proceed with a modest
top-working programme out in the state.
* * * * *
The principal object of this scheme will be to establish sources of
scionwood at various places in the state and to instruct interested
parties in the art of grafting. A total of 25 demonstrations have
already been given and in nearly every case improved varieties were
established and local interest was aroused. It is a matter of
satisfaction to report that at least four men have made a commendable
start in top-working ordinary seedling trees with scions of superior
sorts and one of these men, Mr. Charles Pepper of Berlamont, proposes to
establish a small nursery of Allen black walnuts.
* * * * *
For some time the writer has planned to interest the Future Farmers of
America in planting nut trees, but was too busy with other duties to
make the proper contact. Just recently arrangements were made with Dr.
Gallup, the State Supervisor of Vocational Agricultural Education, for a
presentation of the scheme of nut tree planting to these enterprising
and energetic young men. My object is to interest at least one member of
each group in either top-working local seedlings with the best hardy
varieties or in planting good nut tree varieties. Plans are also made to
interest the members of the State Horticultural Society in planting some
of the best varieties of Michigan origin.
Educational Work
This feature of our project has not been given a great deal of emphasis
because it was believed we did not have enough information of local
nature to justify us in conducting an extensive educational programme.
We now believe we have enough information to make a start and I have
arranged a series of meetings with county agents at their regional
conferences in the southern part of the lower peninsula. Each regional
conference includes the county agents and associated workers in several
counties and affords one an opportunity to present our programme to
State officials who can give us most effective cooperation. This project
along with a similar one for the Future Farmers of America should create
more interest in nut culture.
General Notes
The establishment of hardy blight resistant chestnuts of good quality is
an important objective in our nut cultural project, and one in which
only partial success can be reported. Approximately 700 Chinese and
Japanese Chestnut trees have been planted but only about 260 of these
trees are living. Some of these casualties were due to dry weather,
rabbits and woodchucks, but the major part were due to unsuitable soil
conditions. Our observations show that the Asiatic chestnuts will not
thrive in an alkaline soil, as nearly all the losses occurred on an area
that had a heavy application of marl. On the area where the trees are
now growing well the soil is acid and supports several acid tolerant
plants.
A superior strain of Chinese Chestnut was found in a lot of about 60
trees which the writer sent to Mr. W. R. Reek of the Experiment Station
at Ridgetown, Ontario, in 1927. The best tree has made a good growth,
and bears large nuts of good quality. Scions of this tree were obtained
last spring and grafted onto several Chinese seedlings at the Kellogg
Farm. An attempt will also be made to graft a few large--unfruitful
Japanese chestnuts at various places in the State with scions of this
good Chinese strain.
* * * * *
An interesting bit of information on the hardiness of the black walnut
and butternut has just come to hand from Col. B. D. Wallace of Portage,
La Prairie, Manitoba. Col. Wallace reports the occurrence of a seedling
black walnut in his nursery that is quite hardy and which bore fully
matured nuts at an early age. He also has a fine grove of butternuts
that are entirely hardy and which bear good crops of nuts. These
butternut trees grew from nuts secured from France about twenty years
ago. The trees are quite hardy but other butternut seedlings from
Ontario seemed to lack hardiness. No data are at hand to show where the
French butternut trees came from, but inasmuch as the butternut is not a
native of France it is almost certain that the trees came from North
America and probably Quebec Province. In any case the trees are hardy
and are reported to give satisfaction to the people in the Prairie
Provinces.
Mr. Kroodsma, Extension Forester, reports the occurrence of a moderately
large black walnut which bears nuts of good quality and fair size at
Houghton in the extreme northern part of the Upper Peninsula. These
accessions to our knowledge of the hardiness of the walnut and butternut
are valuable and would suggest that these species can be grown much
farther north than their native range.
In a former report reference was made to an attempt while in the service
of the Ontario Department of Agriculture to interest the members of the
Womens' Institute in Ontario in planting nut trees, but not much
progress was made until last spring. The writer had in Ontario about 800
fine seedling heartnuts which he was unable to sell and which had to be
moved. It seemed regrettable to destroy them and finally the trees were
given to Mr. Geo. Putnam, Supt. of Institutes for distribution in my old
home county and in another county where I worked for some time. The
trees were readily accepted and much interest was aroused. So much in
fact that I was kept busy writing letters to people who wanted to share
in the distribution. Unfortunately, I did not have enough trees to meet
all demands and so had to refuse many an Institute member who was
anxious to try these heartnut seedlings.
Notes on the Filbert Orchard at Geneva
_By_ G. L. SLATE
_Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y._
Winter killing of the wood and catkins is probably the limiting factor
in growing filberts in Western New York. Satisfactory varieties must
possess catkins hardy enough to provide sufficient pollen for
pollination purposes. There must also be very little killing of the wood
or the crop will be reduced in proportion to the amount of wood that is
winter injured. Several years observations in the Station filbert
orchard at Geneva have shown a great variation in hardiness of filbert
varieties. With some varieties the catkins are severely injured each
winter, with others, very little injury occurs. Because of this great
variation in hardiness we must accumulate as much data as possible
concerning the ability of varieties to withstand our winters, especially
the mild winters, before we are in a position to make definite variety
recommendations.
Last winter, 1932-33 was especially hard on filberts, in fact, much more
winter injury was experienced than at any time since the Station orchard
was set in 1925. It was a good season to separate the hardy and tender
sorts. Throughout the winter the weather was exceptionally mild and
favorable for that type of winter injury due to early growth activity.
In a normally cold winter catkin killing as a rule is not very serious,
except on a few tender varieties. Although catkin killing was so serious
at Geneva, S. H. Graham of Ithaca, who is growing a number of varieties
on an exposed location where winters are more severe than at Geneva,
reports that his trees suffered less catkin injury than at any time
since he has been growing them. Catkin killing does not seem to be due
to extreme cold during the winter and rarely are the catkins injured
before late February or early March. Injury may be severe even though
the temperatures are not lower than the catkins are thought to endure
when in bloom. Apparently the injury may be due to the cumulative effect
of dessication throughout the winter months, this effect becoming
apparent shortly before the catkins bloom. Catkins forced into bloom
prior to late February bloom normally and without apparent injury.
The data on winter injury of catkins is being accumulated for two
purposes. First, it is being used as a basis for recommending varieties
as pollinators; and second, it is being used in selecting parents for
breeding hardy varieties.
The amount of winter killed catkins is determined by observation during
the blooming season in late March. All catkins that fail to open, or
open weakly and shed no pollen, are considered winter killed and the
proportion that are killed is expressed in per cent.
Based on the amount of winter injury of catkins during the winter
1932-33, I am making four groups. First, those varieties in which all,
or practically all the catkins were killed. In the varieties suffering
such severe catkin injuries, much of the wood was killed, but this will
be treated separately.
The varieties in this group are Nottingham, Early Prolific, Garibaldi,
Kentish filbert, Pearson's Prolific, Princess Royal, the Shah, Webb's
Prize Cobb, Bandnuss, Barr's Zellernuss, Berger's Zellernuss, Grosse
Kugelnuss, Heynicks Zellernuss, Lange von Downton, Multiflora, Sickler's
Zellernuss, and a Corylus rostrata brought into cultivation from a glen
a few miles away. The planting of varieties in this list is not
recommended.
The second group includes those sorts in which 50 to 90 per cent of the
catkins were killed. The varieties are Barcelona, Daviana, Fertile de
Coutard, Montebello, Cannon Ball, Duke of Edinburgh, Duchess of
Edinboro, Prolific Closehead, Red Skinned, Kadetten Zellernuss, Kaiserin
Eugenie, Kunzemuller's Zellernuss, Liegel's Zellernuss, Prolifique a
coque serree, Romische Nuss, Schlesierin, Truchsess Zellernuss, Voile
Zellernuss, Kruse, and Littlepage, a variety of Corylus americana from
Indiana. Some wood killing occurred among the varieties in this group.
None of these varieties should be depended upon for pollination
purposes.
The third group includes those varieties experiencing 20 to 50 per cent
winter injury. The varieties are Kentish Cob, Italian Red, Bollwiller,
Red Aveline, White Aveline, and Vollkugel. These varieties may be
planted with caution if too much dependence is not placed upon them as
pollinators.
In the fourth group are those with less than 20 per cent of catkin
injury. These are Clackamas, Cosford, Minna, Early Globe, English
Cluster, Medium Long, Oregon, Purple Aveline, Red Lambert, White
Lambert, D'Alger, Althaldensleber, Ludolph's Zellernuss, Luisen's
Zellernuss, Neue Riesennuss, Eickige Barcelonaer, and Winkler and Rush,
the latter two being varieties of Corylus americana. Varieties from this
group and the third group should be used as pollinators and as parents
in breeding work to develop catkin hardy varieties.
Winter killing of the wood has not been as extensive nor as serious as
catkin killing. It is usually slight and confined to a few varieties but
during the past winter 1932-33, many varieties killed back severely.
The varieties are grouped according to the amount of winter injury of
wood. Varieties in which more than 50 per cent of the wood was killed
are Nottingham, Early Prolific, Garibaldi, Princess Royal, Webb's Prize
Cob, Bandnuss, Grosse Kugelnuss, Jeeves Samling, Kaiserin Eugenie,
Multiflora, Kurzhullige Zellernuss, Lange von Downton, and the Corylus
rostrata previously mentioned.
Varieties experiencing from 20 to 50 per cent of wood killing were
Barcelona, Red Aveline, Montebello, Berger's Zellernuss, Einzeltragende
Kegelformige, Heynick's Zellernuss, Prolifique a Coque serre, Sickler's
Zellernuss, Voile Zellernuss, and Russ.
In the following varieties from 5 to 20 per cent of the wood was
winter-killed: Minna, Bollwiller, Duchess of Edinboro, Pearson's
Prolific, The Shah, Barr's Zellernuss, Kunzemuller's Zellernuss,
Liegel's Zellernuss, Romische Nuss, Schlesierin, Truchsess Zellernuss,
Vollkugel and Littlepage.
Varieties which are not injured at all or less than five per cent were
Clackamas, Cosford, Daviana, Early Globe, English Cluster, Kentish Cob,
Fertile de Coutard, Italian Red, Medium Long, Oregon, Purple Aveline,
Red Lambert, White Aveline, White Lambert, D'Alger, Cannon Ball, Duke of
Edinburgh, Kentish filbert, Prolific Closehead, Red Skinned, Eckige
Barcelonaer, Kadetten Zellernuss, Ludolph's Zellernuss, Luisen's
Zellernuss, Kruse, Neue Riesennuss and Rush and Winkler.
It is evident from this data that although many filbert varieties are
subject to serious winter injury, there are still a number to choose
from that are sufficiently hardy under western New York conditions.
Variety Notes
The Station variety collection has grown considerably since I discussed
filberts before you in 1929. At that time the collection consisted of 28
varieties; today there are under test at Geneva 99 varieties of Corylus
avellana, five varieties of Corylus americana, five Jones seedlings, and
six species of Corylus, or a total of 115 forms.
Later observations on the original orchard have indicated that the
original variety recommendations should be modified. Certain varieties
imported from Europe and renamed, or were misnamed when imported, and
that have been disseminated by nurseries are apparently identical with
certain German varieties recently imported by the Geneva Station.
Preliminary observations indicate that some of these recently imported
German sorts are worthy of further attention.
Barcelona which was the most productive variety during the first few
years has been falling behind in yields the past two seasons. This,
coupled with the winter killing of wood and catkins last winter, makes
Barcelona a doubtful variety to plant.
Italian Red in 1932 averaged nearly eight pounds of nuts to the tree,
the heaviest yield of any variety in the orchard. The crop this year
promises to be satisfactory and one of the largest in the orchard, in a
season when varieties generally are very light. S. H. Graham of Ithaca
reports that "Italian Red has been the best and most regular bearer of
any of the European filberts" that he has tried.
Kentish Cob averaged five pounds per tree last year and Cosford over
four pounds. The latter variety is catkin hardy and should be in every
planting. White Lambert and Red Lambert, still light croppers, possess
very hardy catkins and for that reason deserve trial.
Oregon, Purple Aveline, and English Cluster bear heavy crops, but are
difficult to husk and the nuts too small for market. For home use they
should be very satisfactory.
Among the newer nuts fruiting last year for the first time, Neue
Riesennuss, originating in Germany in 1871, is promising. It is one of
the largest in the Station collection, is a bright light brown in color
with slightly darker stripes, and last winter experienced very little
catkin injury and no wood injury. As yet nothing is known of its
productiveness in this country, but in Germany it is said to be
productive.
Some of the nuts distributed in this country by Mr. Vollertsen of
Rochester are proving identical with some of the German sorts recently
imported by the Station. I do not intend to suggest now that the name of
the varieties in this country be changed to those of the varieties with
which they are identical. Later when all of these imported varieties are
in full bearing the matter of changing names will be brought to your
attention again.
Red Lambert (of Vollertsen) is identical with Beethe's Zeller, and
Italian Red (of Vollertsen) is identical with Gustav's Zeller. Minna (of
Vollertsen) is not the Minna of German descriptions.
Filbert Breeding
The breeding work with filberts is following two lines. Hardiness of
wood and catkin is of prime importance and to develop varieties
satisfactorily in these respects those varieties that have proved hardy
are being crossed with different sorts that have desirable nut and tree
characters. Hardiness is also being sought by crossing the Rush native
hazel with varieties of Corylus avellana. 535 trees from this cross,
made by Mr. Reed, are now growing in a fruiting plantation at the
Station, and several hundred more from other crosses are in the nursery
row. With this wealth of material coming along, it is reasonable to
assume that the day is not far distant when satisfactory varieties will
be available for northern planting.
Developing a Walnut Grove as a Side Line Job as a Bee Keeper
L. K. HOSTETTER
_Lancaster, Pennsylvania_
In discussing this topic I shall give you some of my doings in my bee
business and nut growing.
About 30 years ago, I started out in the bee business with three
colonies of bees. This number increased gradually until I had 170
colonies. During these 80 years I would sometimes have a bumper crop of
honey and then again sometimes a total failure. This past summer
happened to be one of those off years. It is, however, the income from
this bee business that started me off in the growing of a grove of 800
black walnut trees, also a few shellbarks, pecans, heartnuts, English
walnuts, hicans, hardshell almonds and filberts.
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