Dr.
Morris's place. Dr. Morris agrees with us that there is a fine
opportunity for searching for the best varieties. He has done it and has
found, I believe, one which he thinks is especially fine. I would be
glad to hear from any one else about these nuts.
MR. RIEHL: Mr. President, I have made a little observation of the
European and I don't think it will count for very much. I know of trees
that were planted in one of our experiment stations. I last saw them
three or four years ago and they were twelve or fifteen feet high and
bearing very heavy crops. I saw no disease of any kind but it was in the
city of Alton and I don't suppose there is a native hazel within miles
of it. That may be why they were bearing so well and were exempt from
disease. I haven't seen those trees for the last four years and what has
happened to them I don't know. I intend to go and see what has become of
them.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Doan, what is your especial interest in the hazel?
MR. DOAN: I think it offers great possibilities. The different species
that we have tried show that. The fact that it grows freely, even though
certain branches of it have the blight, which does not at once destroy
the whole bush, and the fact that it bears freely and abundantly, I
think are points in its favor. A great many persons couldn't wait eight
or ten years for a nut tree to bear but could wait a much shorter time.
I think this is one good point in favor of the hazels.
THE PRESIDENT: There is no doubt that the hazel offers a very excellent
opportunity for study and investigation. There are many varieties of the
native hazel that are very fine and it seems to me that therein lies a
field of work for this association. There is no information to the
productive nut grower of more value than the facts as to what these nuts
will do, how they can be produced, how quickly they bear, and what they
are worth. We have very little reliable information about the English
walnut. When we listened to Mr. Reed last night we were forced to the
conclusion that as yet we know nothing about it. There are a few
apparently promising English walnut trees throughout the North but there
are many things to be taken into consideration before you can recommend
those for propagation. It seems to me the hazel offers a field of
considerable importance. Has any one else any suggestions to offer?
MR POTTER: This hazel proposition interests almost every member of the
association. It s
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