ere set in sandy loam soil with a porous yellow subsoil in
a field of medium elevation which has excellent air drainage so I have
had little damage from cold injury. The soil is of fair fertility for
the Upper Costal Plain area. Of the trees sent me, fourteen of the ML
selection, originating, I am informed by Mr. Gravatt, from seed obtained
in Anhwei Province of China, and 10 MO selection originating in Chekiang
Province were set in my orchard. Only two of these failed to survive,
leaving a total of twenty-two. These were cultivated with the field
crops, mostly cotton and corn, and I must admit didn't have much
individual attention for several years. I even left the side branches to
minimize injury from the mule and plow used in cultivation. Some leaves
and trash were put around them at times and they received some benefit
from the fertilizer of the row crops. I mention this to show that my
chestnuts grew quite well though only moderately fertilized, but
receiving good cultivation while young. I might mention that I set two
trees in stiff Piedmont clay soil a few miles above here, to try them
under woodland conditions. These have never done well, although one had
burs but I found no nuts. Other trees which I observe have not been
given cultivation grow very slowly, although I have not seen any tried
on what I would consider _good_ woodland areas.

My trees, spaced about 40 x 40 ft., have grown quite rapidly so that now
some of the limbs are almost touching. Tree ML No. 2, which is about
average size, measured last fall in diameter 12-1/2 inches, in height 24
feet, with a limb spread of 30 feet. By 1943 the trees were getting so
large that cultivation was discontinued. An attempt is made to keep all
litter possible in the orchard, which, with the shade of the trees, has
caused much of the soil to become loose and mellow. Since our sandy soil
is very low in calcium I applied limestone one time at the rate of about
1500 lbs. per acre. This I hoped would improve the texture of the soil
and make better conditions for growing bur clover between the trees.
Basic slag which contains about 10% phosphate was applied at the rate of
about 600 lbs. per acre in the early '40's. For the last four or five
years I applied about 200 lbs. of guano (4-10-7 usually) and 200 lbs of
basic slag annually. Since 1944 I have been adding about 50 lbs. of
minor mineral elements to the above mixture. Whether it is a coincidence
or not I cannot say, b