like a steer going through a bush. They
have grown five or six feet each season.

Another point is the great variation, apparently, of the black walnut
with regard to its keeping qualities. I recall putting away in a garret,
in 1894, a number of bushels of a nut of particular merit, and they were
perfectly sweet and edible as much as seven years later. Now it is only
occasionally that you will find one that will keep as long as that, but
with the trees bearing every two years, it is quite possible that the
fruit would be marketable for two or three, or even four years
afterwards, if kept properly.

There is no reason to think that the Stabler is the best nut growing in
the United States. It merely grew within reach of the eyes of observing
men.

The filbert and the almond we hope to cover briefly before adjourning. I
will ask Mr. Reed to give us a short contribution on the almond.

MR. M. P. REED: This almond (exhibiting specimens) we received scions of
from Mr. C. A. Reed, of the Department a few years ago. It was three
years ago this summer that we top-worked it, and we picked almost half a
bushel of almonds from it this summer. The almond has a thick shell,
kernel of good flavor, but I don't think it will amount to anything
very much except for home use.

MR. LITTLEPAGE: How old was the tree that bore them?

MR. M. P. REED: Top-worked three years ago this summer.

MR. LITTLEPAGE: And bore how many?

MR. W. C. REED: Bore a half a bushel this last summer.

MR. LITTLEPAGE: If any one here would like bud-wood of that almond I
will be glad to send it to them.

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Littlepage offers to send those present bud-wood of
that tree, which can be, with great ease, top-worked on the peach by the
ordinary process of shield budding.

DR. IRA ULMAN: I have grafted scions of this nut on Amygdalus Davidiana,
the new Chinese peach of the Department of Agriculture, and the growth
is marvelous. It does just exactly as Mr. Reed told you.

DR. STABLER: I would like to ask whether the almond is attacked by the
same insects and diseases that affect the peach, whether it is affected
by peach yellows and whether it is affected by the peach borer. I
understand that the apricot is, in a measure, immune to the peach borer
at least, and possibly also to the peach yellows. If the almond is to be
short-lived like the peach tree, it may not be nearly as valuable as if
it were a hardy tree. If you place it upon peach stock