.
Since however, _C. americana_ is useful as a pistillate parent, it is
possible that _C. californica_ may be similarly used.

The workers of the United States Bureau of Plant Industry are primarily
testing first-generation hybrids resulting from crosses with the
pistillate parents Rush,[20] Littlepage, and Winkler of _C. americana_
and pollen from varieties of _C. avellana_ native of Europe, northern
Africa, and western Asia, and of _C. maxima_, the filbert of
southeastern Europe and western Asia. Other pollen parents were _C.
colurna_, (Turkish hazel, native of southeastern Europe and western
Asia) and _C. heterophylla_ Fisch., (various leaved hazel from eastern
Asia.)

Crane and Wood (1937) suggest that varieties of high merit should be
developed for home plantings over much of the region from lower New
England and Great Lakes on the north, and to the Potomac and Arkansas
Rivers on the south, and that much of Wisconsin, southern Minnesota,
South Dakota, and Nebraska might also be included.

Dr. Crane writes, by letter dated July 27, 1948, that he has as a result
of breeding work, which was started many years ago, two new varieties
that have been placed in the hands of nurserymen for multiplication.
These varieties are at the present time carried under the numbers of
1667 and 2336, These are hybrids between the European filbert (_Corylus
avellana_ L.) and the native American hazelnut (_C. americana._) At the
Plant Industry Station at Beltsville, Maryland, these two varieties have
been outstanding in their yielding ability, hardiness, and quality of
nuts produced. Dr. Crane does not think, however, that these varieties
may very materially change the situation as regards commercial filbert
growing in the East and in the South.

Because of the conditions prevailing during the last war, nurserymen
have not made as much progress, in propagating these new varieties as
had been originally hoped. Dr. Crane plans to release these varieties
for extensive plantings just as soon as there are sufficient plants in
the hands of the nurserymen to warrant their being called to the
attention of the general public.

HILLCULTURE PROJECT. The Department of Horticulture of V.P.I, has what
is called a Hillculture project, with Professor R. C. Moore in charge.
Among the materials planted in connection with these studies are filbert
varieties to determine their possible value on hill farms in the
mountainous regions of Southwest Virgini