t is quite likely that this tree would not mature
nuts in a short growing season or in a season of low heat units, but the
fact that it has done so well in recent years in growth and nut
production is very encouraging, indeed. Plans are being made to
propagate this strain.

Another good pecan sample was received from Mr. B. B. Dowell of
Paulding, Ohio. This tree is hardy and produces nuts slightly larger
than the Westphal tree. The nuts have good cracking quality and flavor
of kernel and are worth propagating for northern regions.

Propagation

The propagation of selected strains of nut trees is not primarily the
function of an Experiment Station, with the exception of such work as
may be necessary to establish on Station property a sufficient number of
trees to furnish scionwood for experimental purposes and to supply
interested parties with what they require. We believe that nut tree
nurserymen should undertake the propagation of new varieties of proven
merit and we have endeavored to furnish our local nurserymen and others
with scionwood of our best native selections or introductions. Such
propagation as we have done is with established trees and can properly
be considered as top-working. This feature of our project is discussed
under that heading.

Topworking

Our programme of top-working was carried on in 1933 to the full extent
of time and funds available and a special effort was made to top-work
some of the worthless pignuts and bitternuts with scions of hicans and
hybrid hickories. In a former report, reference was made to the
difficulty in grafting shagbark and shellbark scions onto pignuts; and
here again I want to say my first observation still holds especially
with the shagbarks. I do not have a single shagbark scion left on
pignuts out of several hundred set during the last four seasons.

Our results with hybrid hickories and with hicans have been much
more encouraging in so far as the set of scions and growth is
concerned. The following varieties have done well on the pignut or
bitternut--Burlington, Beaver, Cedar Rapids, Creager, Dennis, Des
Moines, Fairbanks, Kirtland, Laney, Lingenfelter, McCallister,
Stratford, and Shinnerling. It is definitely known that most of these
varieties are of hybrid origin with the exception of Cedar Rapids and
Kirtland. The buds of the variety I have labelled as Cedar Rapids do not
look like pure shagbarks and it is possible that a mix up has occurred
in the labe