ud selection within
the variety lies ahead of us.

Among fruit growers the search seems to have been for fruits of
different or more pleasing color. As nut growers we are more likely to
be interested in nut sports having better size, kernel, cracking
qualities, etc. Trees that are able to ripen their nuts in short or cool
seasons are especially desirable in some of our more northern states.

My attention was especially called to the importance of bud selection
several years ago while buying my winter's supply of apples. I was
examining the splendid crop of Jonathan apples in a neighbor's large
commercial orchard. On most of the Jonathan trees the apples were large
and well colored and the crop was heavy. However, a few trees bore
apples of inferior size and color. Upon questioning the fruit grower as
to the difference in the performance of the two types of Jonathan apple
trees, he explained that the better apples came from trees supplied by a
nurseryman who was very particular in selecting a good bud strain. The
other trees were just the ordinary strain of Jonathan.

It was while working in a commercial orchard of the grafted varieties of
black walnuts that I noticed one especially promising Thomas tree.
During the few years that I have observed this tree, its nuts have been
of splendid size and very uniform. The kernels from the nuts from this
tree were somewhat better than those from most of the other trees. I now
have some grafts growing from this promising tree.

There appears to be much promise for nut improvement by cross-breeding
to regroup desired qualities. Although many of us enjoy the nut contests
that are conducted from time to time, it appears that our nut
improvement program might move along faster if more attention were given
to nut breeding and searching out desirable bud sports.

Discussion after G. J. Korn's paper.

Corsan: "Farmers should be encouraged to plant nut trees along boundary
lines. Enormous amounts of fertilizer there."

J. R. Smith: "One tree in ten thousand seedlings is worth while."

Dr. Lounsberry: "We have two trees planted close together--one bears
small nuts and the other large nuts. They are from the same grafting. It
would seem that the trouble is in the stock. The stock makes a vast
difference."

The Hemming Chinese Chestnuts

E. SAM HEMMING, Easton, Maryland

The bearing record of our row of 18 Chinese chestnuts has attracted so
much attention that I though