atively disease-free, developed straight
boles, made satisfactory growth, and were able to maintain themselves in
the stands in competition with the other rapid-growing associated
hardwood species.

The indicator plants that suggest good sites for Asiatic chestnuts are:
(a) Tree species--yellowpoplar, northern red oak, white ash, sugar
maple, and yellow birch; (b) shrub species--spicebush; (c) herbaceous
species--maiden hair fern, bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit, squirrelcorn
and/or Dutchman's breeches. Plants that indicate sites too dry for
forest-tree growth of Asiatic chestnuts are: (a) Tree species--the
"hard" pines, black oak and scrub oak; (b) shrub species--dwarf sumac,
and low blueberry; and (c) herbaceous species--broomsedge, wild
strawberry, and povertygrass. Plants that indicate sites too wet are:
(a) Tree species--black ash, red maple, and willows; (b) shrub
species--alder; (c) herbaceous species--sedges and skunkcabbage.

Climatic Test Plots

On the basis of the experience gained from the earlier, extensive
distribution of Asiatic chestnut planting stock, the Division of Forest
Pathology, during the years of 1936, 1938, and 1939, established 21
Asiatic chestnut climatic test plots on cleared forest lands in eight
eastern States on the most favorable sites obtainable. These plots, with
their isolation borders, aggregating slightly less than 32 acres, and
accommodating nearly 22,000 trees spaced 8 by 8 feet, occur from
northern Massachusetts, along the Alleghenies southward to the southern
Appalachians in southwestern North Carolina, and from the Atlantic
seaboard, in southeastern South Carolina through the Middle West to
southeastern Iowa. More than 20 strains are being tested at each place,
including Chinese, Japanese, Seguin, and Henry species, as well as
hybrids, and progeny of some of the oldest introduced chestnuts. Most of
the plots are fenced against livestock and deer.

Although the results from these plots are as yet entirely preliminary,
during the 8- to 11-year period of testing, valuable information has
already been obtained: (1) The range of the Asiatic chestnuts tested
does not coincide entirely with the range of the American chestnut or
the native chinkapins. All Asiatic chestnut species that have been
tested have failed at Orange, Massachusetts, where the American chestnut
grew in abundance. In southeastern South Carolina, where the several
species of native chinkapin thrive, some of them