[A] Not entered in the contest
It is not believed that nuts of Fagus sylvatica (European beech) will test out better, generally, than nuts of Fagus grandiflora (American beech) but the beechnuts were not tested till late, and the European beechnuts had been kept in a refrigerator, while the American beechnuts had not, which very likely may have been the cause for better retaining both the flavor and pellicle-removing quality, which made these nuts receive more points for these characteristics and so be awarded more points than the first four.
The meager results in getting beechnuts large enough to be of horticultural value in this contest, as well as in previous contests, and the failures of considerable effort on the part of the writer independently to locate large beechnuts, have caused him to put much thought on the matter and to have come to the conclusion that the search should be conducted in Europe as well as here, for the following reasons:
The beech in Europe is much more esteemed as a valuable tree than here, largely because of its value for fuel.
It has for many years, if not for centuries, been a tree that has been largely planted in those forests, state and private, which have been managed on the basis of sustained production, and it is not doubted that the men in charge are more familiar with the beech trees in the forests under their jurisdiction than is the case in America.
The European beech has shown the most amazing variation in color, size and shape of leaves, color of bark, and habits of growth, which have been perpetuated by grafting as ornamental varieties, and it seems likely that there are equal variations in the nuts which only remain to be discovered.
In short, while there may be no more large fruited beeches in Europe than here, it is believed that the chances of finding them are better.
ATTENDANCE RECORD
James A. Neilson, East Lansing, Michigan.
C. F. Walker, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hershey, Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. and Mrs. G. A. Zimmerman, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Yant, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Newton H. Russell, Hadley Center, Massachusetts.
Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Freel, Pleasantville, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Crissman, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Bingham, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Harrington, Williamsburg, Iowa.
Frank H. Frey, Chicago, Illinois.
R. S. Herrick, Des Moines, Iowa.
Arthur Huston, Cropsey, Illinois.
Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Connecticut.
J. K. Hershey, Ronk, Pennsylvania.
Hugh E. Williams, Ladora, Iowa.
C. W. Bricker, Ladora, Iowa.
Millard Harrington, Williamsburg, Iowa.
Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Boyce, Winterset, Iowa.
T. J. Maney, Ames, Iowa.
J. F. Wilkinson, Rockport, Indiana.
Snyder Brothers, Center Point, Iowa.
Dr. R. J. Meyers, Moline, Illinois.
Rev. L. D. Stubbs, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Vance McCray, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Ray Anderson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A. B. Anthony, Sterling, Illinois.
George F. Stoltenberg, Moline, Illinois.
John H. Witte, Murlington, Iowa.
W. L. Van Meter, Adel, Iowa.
Miss Elva Becker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
N. F. Drake, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Prof. A. S. Colby, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.