grafted on European
and some Japanese seedlings.

As we are listed as cooperators with the U.S.D.A., Division of Forest
Pathology, Beltsville, Md., we prepare semi-annual reports for Dr.
Frederick H. Berry and also send a portion of our American chestnut seed
to him. In this way we insure the continuation of the "Dutchess" clone
after our lifetimes.

The American chestnut is not as sweet as Chinese chestnut but is much
finer in texture and richer in subtle pleasing flavor. We would say that
the quality is higher. _Castanea dentata_ has the most uniformly
delicious nuts. It is excelled, however, by many individuals of _C.
pumila_. In our opinion these possess the highest quality nuts in the
entire genus.

Our American chestnuts hybrids, especially those with _C. Sequinii_, are
very interesting. The latter make a dwarf tree that bears incredible
amounts of small chestnuts. They have pollination problems to be solved
and the nuts are seldom filled. Pollen sterility is a common feature
with them. They are also everbearing.

Some Northern strains of Chinese chestnut seem barely hardy but promise
to survive. Of the grafted varieties we have, Abundance is the most
vigorous. "Nanking" has winter-killed here and it has been replanted
this year. These are very blight resistant, and rarely lose a branch to
this disease after winter injury. The Japanese behave in much the same
way.

We have many obscure chestnut species and hybrids growing here. They are
grown for study, hybridizing purposes, and as a source of supply to
interested members. When mature, we hope to obtain some cash crops from
our Chinese and Japanese Chestnut trees. Blight in Europe will no doubt,
in about 5 years more, reduce imports of chestnuts thus creating higher
prices and a more favorable market.

Chinese chestnuts do not keep well when stored using standard commercial
practices. European chestnuts are shipped in barrels and kept in open
fruit boxes for weeks at a time in front of fruit and vegetable stores
in New York City. Storekeepers never moisten these believing that rot
would result. These are viable even in January and sometimes as late as
March. Will our present Chinese chestnuts keep as well under these
conditions? We think not. American Chestnuts can be kept in bulk only.

We are continually striving to obtain by selection and subsequent
hybridization, the best chestnuts that can be grown in our severe
climate. The Chinese chestnut has perf