Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting / Battle Creek, Michigan, September 10 and 11, 1934

by Unknown

Black Walnut

The black walnut is placed at the head of the native group because of its great all round usefulness. Wherever it grows well its timber is of leading value among all American species. It is a splendid ornamental and the nuts are highly edible. The black walnut range does not extend as far north as does that of the butternut, yet wherever it grows well it is much more useful as a tree, and is successful under a greater variety of conditions. It is probably a more dependable bearer and, upon the average, the nuts yield a higher percentage of kernel. Many more varieties of black walnut than of butternut have been brought to light and more trees have been propagated. Enough varieties of promise have originated in Michigan alone (largely as a result of the work of Prof. James A. Neilson of East Lansing) to preclude any obvious need, at present at least, of bringing varieties from farther south into this zone. In addition to these, a number of other varieties have been recognized from equal latitudes, as in New York and, west of Lake Michigan, in Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

ADAMS—The Adams black walnut is a rather small variety with an approximate size range of from 34 to 48 nuts per pound, and an average of 39. In a cracking test of the 1930 crop, conducted after the kernels had become too dry for most satisfactory cracking, the yield of quarters was 16.75 per cent; that of small pieces 7.81 per cent, and the total 24.56 per cent. The nuts are much elongated in form, being sharply pointed at each end. Many are quite symmetrical, thin-shelled and, when not too dry, of excellent cracking quality. The kernels examined have been notably bright in color, firm in texture, very sweet and highly pleasing to the palate. The quarters are long and slender.

The Adams was first called to public attention in 1920, when the late Henry Adams of Scotts, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, was awarded first prize for an entry of nuts from the original tree which he made in a contest held that year by the Northern Nut Growers Association. In an article published in the Michigan farmer of Detroit, on July 7, 1922, he stated that this tree grew as a sprout in a corn row on land which he cleared in the spring of 1869. When the tree was seen by the writer in 1929, and again in 1932, it gave the impression of having been a moderate or slow grower. Such facts as have been obtainable from time to time indicate that it is but a moderate bearer. However, the character of the soil in which it stands is not of the best, although it is far from being poor. In better soil it would doubtless produce heavier and more uniform crops.

As nearly as it can be ascertained, the Adams was first propagated by the late W. G. Bixby of Baldwin, Long Island, who procured scions in 1922. It was again grafted six years later by J. F. Wilkinson of Rockport, Ind., with scions procured by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In April, 1930, one of the resulting trees was shipped by the Department to the Kellogg Experimental and Demonstration Farm, Augusta, Mich. Trees are now growing on the grounds of the United States Department of Agriculture Horticultural Field Station at Beltsville, Md., and records in the Bixby file show that a tree was shipped by him to Mr. Harry R. Weber, Cleveland, Ohio, probably about 1930. No doubt the variety is growing in other plantings.

An entry of Adams black walnut won third prize in the Michigan contest conducted under the direction of Professor Neilson of East Lansing at the end of the 1929 crop year. During the same year Dr. W. C. Deming, Chairman of the Contest Committee for the Northern Nut Growers Association, made the following comments regarding the Adams: "Shell thin, cracking quality good to perfect, color of kernel light, condition plump, texture tender, quality rich, flavor high." His summary was put tersely, "An excellent nut."

In the event that this variety would do better in a richer soil than that where the parent tree stands, it might prove to be one of the most desirable of all kinds now known for use in the northernmost zone. The parent tree is now owned by a son of the late Henry Adams, Mr. H. R. Adams of Scotts, who now lives on the old homestead.

ALLEN—The Allen black walnut is another Michigan variety which appears to be of considerable promise. It has been under observation by the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Washington since the summer of 1923, when it was called to the attention by the Honorable Charles W. Garfield of Grand Rapids. The parent is a healthy double tree standing some twenty rods from Thornapple Creek on the farm of Mr. Glenn W. Allen, R. F. D. 1, Middleville, Barry County. The local conditions of soil and moisture are highly favorable. The tree frequently bears heavy crops, although, like most others of the species, it tends more to alternate rather than to annual bearing.

Five pounds of the 1931 crop tested in Washington showed a range of from 31 to 37 nuts per pound and an average of 34. The percentage of quarter kernels was 22.45, that of small parts 1.10, and that of bad, O.31 per cent, making a total kernel yield of 23.86 per cent. The cracking quality was good, the kernels were plump, the quality of the kernel rich and the flavor medium sweet.

The Allen was awarded first prize by Professor Neilson in the Michigan contest of 1929. It should be well worthy of test planting in the northern zone. It has been disseminated to a very considerable extent for use in small plantings.

ALLEY—The Alley is a New York variety from the farm of Miss Amy A. Alley, Lagrangeville, Duchess County. This farm is within fifteen miles of the Connecticut line and some 50 to 75 miles above New York City. The Alley was first brought to attention by Miss Alley in 1918, when she was awarded first prize in the contest for that year of the Northern Nut Growers Association. The late W. G. Bixby, in reporting for the committee in charge, said that the Alley had a shell thinner than that of Stabler and that the cracking quality was "100 per cent."

In none of the tests conducted by the department has this variety ranked with the best of the more recent kinds, yet because of its latitude of origin and the fact that in general merit it is well above the average seedling, it is believed that it should be included in northern trial plantings.

Three pounds of the 1931 crop tested by the department counted 39, 41 and 42 nuts each, respectively. The range was 36 to 45. The percentage yield of quarter kernels was but 13.96, for out of 122 nuts cracked 15, or 12.29 per cent, were bad. The total yield of kernel amounted to 25.57 per cent. The kernels that year were neither particularly plump nor especially well filled.

BECK—The Beck is another Michigan variety of black walnut which in many respects has compared favorably with the best varieties yet brought to light from any source. The parent tree was called to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in March, 1929, by Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan. It was on a farm then owned by Mr. Daniel Beck, R. F. D. 2, Hamilton, also of Allegan County. It is a double tree standing in an open field some 20 rods back of the barn. Like many other northern varieties of black walnut, the nuts are rather small, ranging in 1930 from 28 to 49 per pound, and having an average of 37. In that year it had the high percentage of quarter kernels of 25.36, and a total percentage of kernel of 33.08. The shell was thinner than that of the average black walnut, the cracking quality very good, and the kernel bright-colored, plump, rich and sweet.

The Beck has been successfully grafted in the Bixby nursery at Baldwin, Long Island, and at the E. A. Riehl Farm and Nursery at Godfrey, Illinois; by J. W. Arata, Mishawka, Ind.; by Professor Neilson, and probably by others. It is growing in the government test orchard at Beltsville, Md.

BLOSS—The Bloss black walnut was called to the attention of this department in January of 1934 by Mr. Joe Bloss, R. F. D. 2, Box 65, Bristol, Indiana, who at that time forwarded 23 specimen nuts to Washington. These averaged 33 per pound and had a range of from 29 to 36. In the test which followed they yielded 21.05 per cent of quarters and 3.35 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 24.40 per cent of kernel. The cracking quality was very good, the kernel bright, medium sweet, and fairly rich. On the whole this appeared to be a very good nut.

Because of the very creditable showing made by these nuts, it is believed that the Bloss should be investigated further. It may prove valuable in the general locality of its origin, and as Bristol is but a few miles below the Michigan state line, it would seem that the variety should be given careful consideration in plantings throughout the milder portions of the northern zone.

BRUER—The Bruer black walnut first came to attention in 1926 when Mr. Milo Bruer of East Main Street, Sleepy Eye, Minn., sent specimen nuts to Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Conn., for entry in the contest being conducted that year by the Northern Nut Growers Association. Dr. Deming reported that he found the shell thin, the cracking quality good, the kernel white, plump, medium rich in quality, and of mild, nutty "pecan-like" flavor. Later examination in Washington of 20 specimens of the same crop showed that the nuts averaged 37 per pound. By that time they were dried beyond the most satisfactory point for cracking, and, consequently, in this respect, the quality was medium only. The kernels were then but medium plump.

In other respects they appeared to be about as had been observed by Dr. Deming.

As this is the best variety yet brought to attention from Minnesota, it is believed that it should be used in all northern plantings until superseded by others of superior merit.

CRESCO—The parent tree of the Cresco black walnut stands in a creek bottom, on what is known as the Patterson farm, two miles southwest of Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. It is probably within ten miles of the Minnesota state line. So far as known, with the exception of Bruer (of Minnesota), the latitude of its place of origin is greater than that of any other variety originating west of Chicago. It was discovered by Mr. W. A. Bents, proprietor of Cresco Nurseries, Cresco, Iowa, by whom, in 1929, specimen nuts of the 1928 crop were sent to the late S. W. Snyder, of Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Iowa. Scions of this variety were also sent to Mr. Snyder, by whom it was first grafted in 1929. The Cresco has since been disseminated to a considerable extent and is now growing in a number of widely remote plantings, including those of the E. A. Riehl Farm and Nursery, Godfrey, Ill., and the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Beltsville, Md.

Seventy-three nuts of the 1930 crop examined in Washington averaged 35 per pound and yielded 24.55 per cent of quarter kernels, 4.09 per cent small pieces and 0.73 per cent bad, making a total kernel percentage of 29.18.

The latitude of origin, together with the apparent general merit of the Cresco black walnut, makes this variety appear to be of special promise in the northernmost zone.

EDRAS—This is a particularly promising variety, brought to light by Mr. Gerald W. Adams, of Moorhead, Iowa, in connection with the 1926 Association contest; when it was No. 3 of three entries made by Mr. Adams. (It was No. 1 that was designated by the Association as "Adams" at that time and awarded twelfth prize. This variety received no prize.) The variety was first called "Adams" in his honor, but as a Michigan variety had previously been so designated, the name was changed to Edras, after the first name of Mrs. Adams.

The Edras was rated as being "Outstanding" by the late S. W. Snyder of Iowa (Iowa State Hort. Soc. Ann. Rep. 1924, p. 49). Prof. N. F. Drake, of Fayetteville, Ark., in the Proceedings of the Northern Nut Growers Association (p. 24) for 1930, stated: "I think this variety should be kept in mind, especially for breeding purposes where it is desired to develop a strain with a high percentage of kernel."

In a test of nuts from the 1930 crop, the Department of Agriculture obtained a percentage yield of 20.98 for quarters and a total kernel yield of 34.31. That year, 0.43 per cent of the kernels were found bad, and 12.91 per cent were of small parts. It is not improbable that another test would result in an even higher total yield and appreciable improvement in the yield of quarters.

This variety has been quite widely disseminated. It is known to be growing on the Riehl Farm and Nursery grounds at Godfrey, Ill.; at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Ill.; on the Kellogg Experimental and Demonstration Farm, Augusta, Michigan; on the farm of Mr. Harry W. Weber, Cleves, Ohio; and on the governmental test orchard at Beltsville, Md.

The latitude of Moorhead is somewhat below that of the southern boundary of the northern zone, yet climatic conditions of extreme western Iowa are probably no less severe than those of southern Michigan. For this reason, and because of the excellent rating that this variety has received, it is believed that the Edras should be included in further test plantings of the northernmost zone.

GERMAINE—The Germaine black walnut, named in honor of Mr. John W. Germaine, R. 6, Allegan, Mich., owner of the original tree, was called to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in March of 1929 by Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, also of Allegan, when he forwarded a few specimen nuts of the 1928 crop to Washington. These were found to have very good cracking quality and plump kernels of rich quality and pleasing flavor.

Scions have been placed in the hands of various individuals and agencies. Trees of this variety are now growing at Beltsville, Md., and at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Ill.

GRUNDY—The Grundy black walnut originated with a thrifty young seedling owned by Mr. John Rohwer, Grundy Center, Iowa. It was brought to light in 1927, when it received first prize in a private contest conducted by Prof. N. F. Drake, Fayetteville, Ark., and by him given the temporary designation of "Iowa."

According to President F. H. Frey of the Northern Nut Growers Association, in a statement appearing in the Proceedings for 1932 (p. 158), Mr. Rohwer exhibited this variety during the Missouri State Fair of 1928 and was given first prize. The same year, according to this statement, the Grundy was awarded second prize during the meeting of the Mid-West Horticultural Show held in Cedar Rapids. In the opinion of Mr. Frey, the Grundy is superior to Rohwer in flavor of kernel and its equal in cracking quality. An entry of Grundy made in the 1929 contest of the Association was awarded fifth prize.

Little is known of the bearing habits of this variety, although Mr. D. C. Snyder, the surviving member of Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, wrote to Washington on July 31, 1933, that he was "afraid" that both this variety and Rohwer might not prove to be "reliable bearers."

An opinion of Ex-President of the Association, C. F. Walker, expressed July 16, 1933, by letter to the writer, was to the effect that the Grundy walnut was "fair" only.

Three pounds of the 1931 Grundy walnuts tested by the Department at Washington yielded 27.74 per cent quarters, 1.57 per cent bad, and 2.35 per cent small pieces, making a total of 31.66 per cent kernel. The nuts averaged 35 per pound and had a range of from 28 to 36. The cracking quality was very good, the kernels bright, plump, rich in quality and of agreeable flavor.

Considering the good points in favor of this variety, even though its latitude of origin is somewhat below that of the south Michigan border, it would seem that until worthier nuts are found, this should be included in test plantings of the northernmost zone.

HARRIS—The Harris walnut first became known to the department in December of 1924, when Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, Allegan, Mich., owner of the original tree, submitted specimens for examination. The feature which attracted immediate attention was the superior cracking quality, due to the largeness and openness of its kernel chambers. The kernels were not as plump as might have been desired, but this is assumed to have been due to the light, sandy soil where the parent tree grows.

In examining specimens of the 1927 crop, Dr. Deming noted that the nuts were "small, clean," the shell "thick," the cracking quality "good to perfect," and the kernel "not plump, light (in weight) and texture hard." He placed the flavor at "fair to sweet," yet felt that the variety should be given further consideration. Many of the kernels of the nuts which he examined, like those from this tree during most years, were "shrunken."

Two pounds of the 1930 crop tested in Washington yielded 10.91 per cent of quarters, 3.30 per cent of bad kernels, and 4.41 per cent of small pieces, making a total of but 18.63 per cent.

This is a much lower rating than that of any other variety included in this list, and were it not for the superiority of its cracking quality and the latitude of its origin, it would hardly now be included. However, it should probably be included in all test plantings in the northernmost zone, especially if breeding is contemplated. The soil where this original tree stands is of a light, sandy nature. Allowance for this should be made in evaluating the merits of the variety.

HILTON—The Hilton black walnut came to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in early March of 1933, when specimens were received through the courtesy of Prof. L. H. MacDaniels of Ithaca, New York, by whom its propagation had already been successfully begun. Professor MacDaniels wrote that he did not feel that it was "outstanding," except that "apparently it does succeed rather far north and is much above the average in general merit."

The nuts sent to Washington averaged 25 per pound, had a range of from 21 to 28 per pound, and were therefore quite large, especially for that latitude. The yield of quarters was 20.46 per cent, that of small kernel parts O.66 per cent, and the total 21.12 per cent. The cracking quality was very good, the kernel quality rich and the flavor very good.

The original tree, according to Professor MacDaniels, is tall and difficult to climb. It stands on the lot of a next-door neighbor of Mr. D. C. Wright of Hilton, through whom it came to the attention of Professor MacDaniels.

As the town of Hilton is within ten miles of the shore of Lake Ontario, the origin of the variety was practically on the extreme northern edge of western New York. In view of this, it is felt that the Hilton variety should be carefully considered in connection with any planting in the northernmost zone.

HUBER—The Huber black walnut was brought to light by Mr. Ferdinand Huber, Cochrane, Wis., in 1929, when he made an entry in the Association contest. Although the nuts were awarded no prize, the Bixby report made special mention of these nuts as being "notable for the high percentage of kernel (1930 Proc. N. N. G. A., p. 108), having yielded 32.8 per cent of total kernel."

The variety has not been tested by the department, although several attempts have been made to procure specimens for the purpose, but each such effort has been coincident with a crop failure by this particular tree.

LAMB—The Lamb black walnut is a variety propagated and grown for its wood only. The parent tree stood on a farm one-quarter mile east of Ada, Kent County, Michigan, perhaps ten miles due east of Grand Rapids. After the log had been cut and shipped to a mill, discovery was made that the wood of the original tree had a highly figured grain. Mr. George Lamb, then Secretary of the American Walnut Manufacturers Association, 616 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, traced the origin of the log back to its source, where the top was found to be still green, although the tree had been cut two months previous. Scions were cut and sent by Mr. Lamb to the Department of Agriculture in Washington, and also to Dr. Robert T. Morris, Merribrooke Farm, Stamford, Conn. At the suggestion of Dr. Morris, Mr. Lamb also sent scions to Mr. Ford Wilkinson, Rockport, Ind.

Some of the scions received by the Department were placed in the hands of others, including the late Messrs. Jones, Bixby and Snyder, also Prof. V. R. Gardner, Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station at East Lansing, and Dr. G. A. Zimmerman, Piketown, Pa. Drs. Morris and Zimmerman, Professor Gardner, and Messrs. Wilkinson and Bixby, were all successful in their efforts at grafting. Mr. Bixby made new grafts as soon as the original could be cut for scions, and also made some distributions of scions. At the time of his death in August, 1933, there were a dozen or more nursery trees of various sizes and degrees of condition among his stock at Baldwin. From these, scions were sold to a number of Association members during the spring of 1934.

While it has not yet been established that the character of figured grain is transmissible with scions, the value of such wood is so great that anyone interested in producing walnut trees of outstanding value would do well to investigate this variety to the extent of growing a few trees. In all likelihood the combined results from tests made by a large number of persons would be of great value to science.

TASTERITE—The parent tree of the Tasterite walnut, owned by Everl Church, R. F. D. 3, Ithaca, New York, was discovered and named by Mr. S. H. Graham, a neighbor, living on Route 5, also out of Ithaca. The latter submitted specimens to the department in Washington in 1929, where they made a highly favorable showing. Tasterite nuts entered that year in the contest of the Northern Nut Growers Association, although receiving no award by the committee were given the rating of "excellent" by Dr. Deming. In 1930, Prof. N. F. Drake of Fayetteville, Ark., gave Tasterite nuts a rating of "100 per cent on cracking quality." He obtained a total of 28.05 per cent of kernel. Nuts of the 1930 crop examined in Washington averaged 36 per pound, ranged from 34 to 38, and yielded 20.92 per cent of quarters and 7.22 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 28.14 per cent.

The shell of the nut is thinner than the average and the cracking quality distinctly superior. The kernels of nuts promptly harvested, hulled and cured have been bright, plump, rich in quality, and especially pleasing in flavor. The one weak point of the Tasterite appears to be in the matter of size, but this smallness is well offset by superiority in the points just mentioned, and also in what is perhaps more important, the latitude and altitude of the place of origin. Any variety which will yield heavy crops of nuts distinctly superior to the average black walnut in cracking quality and kernel merit at a 42-degree latitude plus, and a 2,000-foot altitude, should be potentially very valuable in the northernmost zone.

WIARD—This is another Michigan variety, apparently of much merit. Vague bits of information regarding it have reached the department at Washington from time to time since June, 1926, when Greening Bros., of Monroe, stated to the writer that Mr. Everett Wiard, a fruit grower near the eastern outskirts of Ypsilanti, was grafting a promising seedling of his own origin. This clue was not successfully followed up until 1932, when a few specimen nuts were obtained. These were found to be of medium size and of excellent cracking quality. The kernels were plump, bright, rich in quality, and of pleasing flavor.

On February 12, 1934, Professor Neilson wrote the department that this seedling had come to his attention during Farmers' Week, held shortly before, at East Lansing. He stated that to him this appeared to be one of the best seedlings thus far discovered and that he was recommending it for propagation. He added that the nut was "of medium size, somewhat diamond-shaped, thin-shelled, easy to crack and of excellent extractive quality." Very likely more will be learned of this variety in the future.

Butternut Varieties

The American butternut, Juglans cinerea, although commonly held to be a slow grower, a tardy and light bearer, and a producer of thick-shelled nuts hard or impossible to crack without extreme difficulty, is frequently quite the opposite in one or more, or all, of these respects. Under favorable environment the trees grow rapidly, bear early, and oftentimes the nuts may be easily cracked and the kernels extracted in perfect halves. Probably more than a dozen varieties from various portions of the North have been named. A few of these appear to be of considerable promise.

The northern range of the butternut extends from Nova Scotia over Maine, across New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, the upper peninsula of Michigan, and through Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota to South Dakota south to Georgia and Arkansas.

Butternut flavor is preferred by many people to that of any other nut. Throughout New England the kernels are used to no inconsiderable extent in the making of highly pleasing food products. Oftentimes the ground kernels are used in the home manufacture of pastries and confections which are either consumed at home or sold on roadside markets at good profit.

The butternut is not without certain weak points which must not be forgotten. The timber is less valuable than that of black walnut, the trees grow to smaller size and seldom live more than 75 or 100 years; outside of the best growing sections of the North, it is possible that the majority succumb under 40 years.

Being less symmetrical, butternut trees are not as suitable for ornamental planting as are nut trees of many other kinds. Nevertheless, a tree or two of each of the best varieties now available should be included in all nut planting as far south as the species is indigenous, and perhaps farther down.

ALVERSON—The parent tree of this variety is owned by Mr. M. E. Alverson, Howard City, Montcalm County, Michigan. It was first called to public attention when it was awarded third prize in the 1932 State contest held at East Lansing under the direction of Prof. James A. Neilson, of Michigan Agricultural College. A one-pound lot tested in Washington during April of the same year counted 47 specimens. It yielded 14.44 per cent of quarters and 1.11 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 15.55 per cent kernel. The cracking quality was found to be good. The kernels were large, long, plump, medium bright, and the flavor distinctly pleasing.

DEMING—This variety was called to attention by Olcott Deming, a son of Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Conn., to whom it was awarded first prize in the 1918 contest of the Northern Nut Growers Association. Dr. Deming sought to have this variety called Olcott, but the name became fixed when it appeared in the Jones catalogue of 1920, and later in various reports of the Association.

The Deming butternut is probably an early bearer, as in notes prepared by the late J. F. Jones for use during the 1926 convention held at Lancaster, reference was made to two trees (Nos. 88 and 89), which were in "bearing while still quite young," the latter of which "bore two nuts the next year after being grafted," and which was then "bearing its third consecutive crop." Mr. Jones began its propagation in 1920, commenting to the writer at the time that it was "larger and had a thinner shell than Aiken."

IRVINE—This variety was awarded first prize ($50.00) in the Northern Nut Growers Association contest of 1929. The parent tree is owned by Mrs. L. K. Irvine, Menominee, Dunn County, Wis. In a Washington test of three pounds, conducted in 1931, the nuts averaged 53 per pound and had a range of from 44 to 59. The kernel yield was 22.13 per cent quarters, 3.90 per cent small pieces, and 0.38 per cent bad. The cracking quality was excellent, the kernels large and highly attractive, the quality good, and the flavor mild. This is apparently one of the finest although not the richest or sweetest, of any variety of butternut yet discovered. It is known to have been successfully propagated but to a limited extent only.

LOVE—This butternut originated on the farm of Mr. Frank Love, R. F. D. 2, Howell, Livingston County, Mich. It was discovered by chance, when the large size and generally sound condition of the parent tree caught the attention of the writer in 1931. In a cracking test conducted later that year the nuts averaged 53 per pound, had a range of from 44 to 71, and yielded a total of 27.32 per cent kernel. The yield of quarters was 24.68 per cent, and that of small pieces 2.64 per cent.

The Love butternuts are considerably smaller than those of some other varieties, and in comparison with Irvine of that year the kernels were much less attractive in appearance, but richer in quality and of more pleasing flavor. On the whole, these nuts now stand among the very best yet called to attention, although during a test made a year later of nuts also from the parent tree, the result was but 17.19 per cent of kernel, composed of 16.86 per cent quarters and 0.33 per cent of small pieces.

These nuts have not appeared in any contest, and in all probability they would have received no award during any but the most favorable years. However, their record of 1931 placed the variety in a class at that time quite by itself.

Scions from the original tree, purchased by the department in 1933, and placed in the hands of several commercial propagators, have resulted in at least one living grafted tree. This is being carefully guarded, and as soon as possible others will be grafted from it. As Mr. Love is quite averse to having the tree cut for scions, it may not be possible to obtain new scions from the original source.

LUTHER—This butternut came to light as a result of the contest held by Professor Neilson at the end of the 1932 crop year, when it received second prize. The entry was made by Mr. F. Luther of Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Mich.

In Washington, nuts of the 1932 crop averaged 52 per pound and yielded 15.45 per cent of quarters and 2.21 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 17.66 per cent of kernel. This test was made in April, after the nuts were rather too dry to crack to the best advantage. At that time the cracking quality was fair only.

SHERMAN—The Sherman butternut first became known in 1929, when Mrs. E. Sherman, Montague City, Mass., was awarded ninth prize in the Northern Nut Growers Association contest of that year. Tested twice in Washington, it has at neither time rated with the best in so far as cracking quality is concerned. In 1931 it made the high kernel yield of 29.41 per cent. However, only 11.76 per cent was of quarters. Exactly the same percentage was of small pieces, and 5.88 per cent of kernels were bad. In 1932, the total per cent of kernel dropped to 15.31, that of quarters to 4.78, and that of kernels to 0.96, while that of small pieces rose to 9.57.

Further studies will be made to see if under optimum conditions of handling after proper harvesting and curing the record of cracking quality cannot be improved upon.