e parent tree and there should be
adequate shade for all classes of livestock on either side of the fence.

How Hardy Are Oriental Chestnuts and Hybrids?

By Russell B. Clapper and G. F. Gravatt Plant Industry Station,
Beltsville, Maryland

One of the questions most frequently asked in regard to the Oriental
chestnuts is, will they thrive in a given locality? Broadly speaking,
with respect to temperature requirements these chestnuts have been found
about equally hardy with the peach. Some strains of the Chinese chestnut
appear to be superior to the Japanese chestnut in hardiness.

The Chinese chestnut is more widely planted in this country than the
Japanese chestnut and more information has been collected on the
hardiness of the former species than of the latter. The Chinese chestnut
is growing satisfactorily in certain plantings as far south as Orlando,
Fla. and the other Gulf States, northward to the southern tip of Maine,
and westward as far as Iowa. But many areas within this large zone are
unsuitable for growing Chinese chestnuts because of more severe climatic
conditions.

Specific data have been obtained relating to several types of winter
injury of Oriental chestnuts and hybrids. This information is limited to
the performance of mostly young trees and to a comparatively small
number of locations.

The fall freeze that occurred in mid-November, 1940, was studied in
detail by Bowen S. Crandall,[9] formerly of this Division. Widespread
damage occurred to Oriental chestnuts in the central parts of South
Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Temperatures before the freeze had been
mild, and heavy rains in early November had broken a drought. On the
nights of November 15 and 16, temperatures of 12 deg. and 14 deg. F. were
reported by various farmers, and a drop to 20 deg. F. was general on the
night of the 16th. The damage to chestnuts by this freeze was increased
because of the mild temperatures and heavy rains that preceded the
freeze. The chestnut trees were not able to attain complete dormancy.
Those trees, however, that were growing on uplands or on sites that were
well air-drained suffered much less damage. Apparently equal damage was
inflicted to Chinese and Japanese chestnuts.

[Footnote 9: Crandall, Bowen S. Freezing injury to Asiatic chestnut
trees in the South in November, 1940. Plant Disease Reporter 27:392-394.
October 1, 1943.]

On one farm near Columbus, Ga., four plantings were located at di