ever been shown within this
state, not excepting the exhibits of the exposition. The board of
directors were so well pleased with the interest manifested in the nut
department that they are continuing the list for this year's fair and
doubtless it will become a permanent feature of future fairs of this
state.

So much publicity and attention has been given the nut question within
our state that it has resulted in bringing to light several new
varieties that we think should be propagated before the original trees
may have been destroyed.

The horticultural department of our Iowa State Agricultural College is
now taking an active interest in the nut question and has assigned one
of the professors to the job of collecting information about and taking
pictures of, the best known nut trees within the state.

If they follow up the nut subject with as much vim and energy as they
have other phases of horticulture we may look for something in the nut
line in the next few years that will be worth while.

The native nut situation might well be summed up by saying that we have
so many good walnuts, butternuts, hazels, pecans, hickories, and hybrids
of the two last named species, that we could banish all foreigners and
still have plenty left to supply every need.

The crop of nuts for this season is fairly good; some trees have none,
others a light crop, and some varieties are carrying a heavy load.

Of introduced nuts some are proving to be hardy and fruitful, but in my
judgment they are all lacking in eating quality as compared with our own
native nuts, unless I should except the filbert which has not yet proven
that it will bear profitable crops in this climate.

In closing I want to give just one instance of the great interest that
has been aroused for nut growing within this state.

A certain little city of less than two thousand inhabitants happens to
own thirty acres of land that is suitable for the growth of timber. The
citizens propose to plant the entire tract to nut bearing trees and
bushes, and eventually make it a free park in which the children of the
village may be turned loose to gather the nuts.

Just imagine, if you can, how the enthusiasm of the boys who may be
fortunate enough to live in that little city, will more than bubble over
as the nut gathering season approaches. I hope to be able to assist
those people in their laudible enterprise and wish I may live to see it
develop into the greatest thing o