hat the soil will be
well settled around the roots. A wrap of newspaper tied loosely around
the trunk of the young tree will aid in preventing winter injury and
sun-scald.

Under conditions of little or no care the seedling chestnut tree will
generally develop several trunks as a result of the forcing of multiple
sprouts from near the ground line. The tree should be trained to one
trunk, as such a form seems to be less susceptible to winter injury
while young and makes a much more desirable orchard tree when older.
Pruning of the young trees subsequent to the development of the head at
a 4 to 5-foot height should be confined to the removal of crossing
branches and those so near to the ground as to interfere with the
necessary cultivation and harvesting work under the tree.

Most soils in the Southeast are somewhat low in fertility and must
receive good care if chestnuts are to grow well. The annual application
of commercial fertilizers is generally required as is the growing of a
winter green manure crop, preferably a legume. One of the most
satisfactory systems is to plant hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas, or
blue lupine[6] in late October or early November, applying broadcast at
the time of planting from 400 to 600 pounds per acre of a 0-14-10 or
0-14-7 fertilizer mixture. This green manure crop should then be disced
in by April 15 of the following spring, with subsequent shallow
cultivations at about six-week intervals through the growing season. The
ground should be clean by the middle of August to facilitate harvesting
the nuts. If such a system of culture is not feasible, as on too steep
slopes or around buildings, mowing or mulching can be used to advantage,
but the trees must be given annual applications of a complete fertilizer
mixture, such as 4-8-6, 6-8-8, or 5-7-5. These should be made each year
about a month before growth starts at a rate of 2 to 3 pounds for each
year of tree age. This should be broadcast under and slightly beyond the
spread of the branches.

It has not yet been found necessary to spray the trees for the control
of any disease or insect. This does not indicate that control measures
may not be required at some time in the future, for it is the history of
horticultural crops when planted in any concentration that diseases and
insects increase in number and degree of injury. As yet, the chestnut
weevil has not been found at the lower elevations in the Southeast.

In a few plantings a con