ration of the
stock for grafting.

[Footnote 1: Verbal statement by Mr. Authur Gold, of Cowen, W. Va., made
during April, 1946.]

Bearing Ages

Young trees may bear a few nuts three or four years after being
transplanted, but it usually takes from 10 to 12 years for tops to
become large enough to produce profitable crops. While there are
occasional trees that become profitable at these ages, there are many
that do not. The only significant record of yields yet made public is
one reported by Hemming.[2] His statement shows that 18 seedling trees
planted in 1930 bore an average of 29.5 pound (green weight) during six
of the eight years from 1937 to 1944, inclusive, when crops were large
enough to be separately recorded for each tree. The range in total
production per tree for the six years was from 106 to 277 pounds. At an
arbitrary price of 25 cents a pound, the average gross return per tree
would have been $7.39 for each of the six crops. The 1944 crop was a
practical failure. That of 1946, amounted to about 1000 pounds, or an
average of about 55 pounds per tree.

[Footnote 2: E. Sam Hemming, Easton, Md., "Chinese Chestnuts in
Maryland," Ann. Rep't., Nor. Nut Growers Association, Incorporated, vol.
35, pp. 32-34. 1944.]

The Seedling Tree

The original planting stock of the Chinese chestnut as grown in the
United States consisted wholly of seed nuts imported direct from the
Orient. It was therefore, inevitable that a period of seedling
development should follow. The great majority of the earliest trees
grown proved unfit for use as potential varieties, although with some
exceptions, they produced nuts that were sweet and palatable. Since the
middle 'thirties, superior strains have been introduced, cultural and
environmental requirements have become better understood, and the
outlook for commercial orchards is much improved.

To a great extent the seedling has served as well as would a grafted
tree for the pioneer experimental work that had to be done. It has been
far better than no tree at all and even now it has its advantages. With
it there is no expense for grafting, no problems of congeniality between
stock and scion and those of cross pollination are held at a minimum.
Moreover, it must not be forgotten that it is only from seedling trees
that superior varieties are possible. In 1946, the year in which this
paper is being written, very few grafted trees are available from any
source.

The Grafted