sentation of the scheme of nut tree planting to these enterprising
and energetic young men. My object is to interest at least one member of
each group in either top-working local seedlings with the best hardy
varieties or in planting good nut tree varieties. Plans are also made to
interest the members of the State Horticultural Society in planting some
of the best varieties of Michigan origin.

Educational Work

This feature of our project has not been given a great deal of emphasis
because it was believed we did not have enough information of local
nature to justify us in conducting an extensive educational programme.
We now believe we have enough information to make a start and I have
arranged a series of meetings with county agents at their regional
conferences in the southern part of the lower peninsula. Each regional
conference includes the county agents and associated workers in several
counties and affords one an opportunity to present our programme to
State officials who can give us most effective cooperation. This project
along with a similar one for the Future Farmers of America should create
more interest in nut culture.

General Notes

The establishment of hardy blight resistant chestnuts of good quality is
an important objective in our nut cultural project, and one in which
only partial success can be reported. Approximately 700 Chinese and
Japanese Chestnut trees have been planted but only about 260 of these
trees are living. Some of these casualties were due to dry weather,
rabbits and woodchucks, but the major part were due to unsuitable soil
conditions. Our observations show that the Asiatic chestnuts will not
thrive in an alkaline soil, as nearly all the losses occurred on an area
that had a heavy application of marl. On the area where the trees are
now growing well the soil is acid and supports several acid tolerant
plants.

A superior strain of Chinese Chestnut was found in a lot of about 60
trees which the writer sent to Mr. W. R. Reek of the Experiment Station
at Ridgetown, Ontario, in 1927. The best tree has made a good growth,
and bears large nuts of good quality. Scions of this tree were obtained
last spring and grafted onto several Chinese seedlings at the Kellogg
Farm. An attempt will also be made to graft a few large--unfruitful
Japanese chestnuts at various places in the State with scions of this
good Chinese strain.

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An interesting bit