Last summer I was talking nut trees to the wife of a rather prominent Detroit man. They have traveled around the world considerably. We were discussing some nut trees which had been sent out. I knew the size of the trees and I didn't laugh, or I sort of saved my face, when she asked me the question, "How many bushels of nuts could we get next year?" I just closed my jaws a while and looked out of the window. I didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Tobin, I would like to have your views on the subject.
MR. TOBIN: This offer of Mr. Jones's is of great importance to this association. I have been interested in trees and forestry and plants of all kinds but until the present time I have not been so much interested in the cultivation of nuts. I wish to say that if there is any way I can help this association along in regard to an experimental station or in any way whatsoever, financially or otherwise, if the suggestion could be made I would be glad to hear it.
THE SECRETARY: Mr. President, this association is not opposed to the planting of seedling trees. One of our founders, the late John Craig, advocated the planting of seedling trees in great numbers, for only thus can we originate new varieties. The association is opposed to the dissemination of seedling trees as grafted trees. It does not advocate the planting of seedling trees for commercial purposes or for ordinary home use. It does not advise the purchase of seedling trees for growing nuts. In sending out these premium trees we should send with them a letter distinctly stating that the association does not advise the planting of seedling trees from a commercial point of view, but it does wish to disseminate these seedling trees which we offer as premiums for new members, for the purpose of testing and the possible discovery of new varieties of nuts. It would then be clearly understood. Certainly such seedling trees shouldn't be sent out to give members the idea that we advocate the planting of seedling trees for any other purpose than of possibly obtaining valuable new varieties.
MR. O'CONNOR: Mr. President, I'm a life member of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society which has offered a thousand dollars for an apple better than the Wealthy. We also offer premiums for new members every year. Sometimes it is a seedling apple tree. Among those premium trees may be a seedling which will win the prize. We do not know what the seedling nut tree will do. We may get something from a seedling which is far better than anything we have today on the table before us. Nature is something wonderful and no one can tell you what she will do. Only this last year has what is called the "O'Connor" come out. But we find this O'Connor nut is not hardy enough for certain sections of the country. This Persian walnut before you is a seedling, too you know, from nature.
So it is through seedlings that we are going to get better fruit. I believe that Mr. Jones's offer is a very good thing. But I suggest that we send these seedlings out with the understanding that they are seedlings and that we don't know what they will produce. If the new member will plant them and take care of them (and we should give a little instruction as to how they should be planted) in a few years, seven or eight if it is a pecan, he should see it coming into fruit.
I would like to say that if you will dynamite the hole with a one-half stick of twenty per cent. dynamite, or, if you are afraid to use the dynamite, dig a large hole so as to give these young roots a chance to spread, a grafted tree will come into bearing in three years. I have seen them do it down there with us in Maryland and I believe they will do the same thing anywhere else.
THE PRESIDENT: I would like to hear from Mr. Vollertsen on the subject.
MR. VOLLERTSEN: I haven't a great deal of confidence in seedlings. As a general thing we find all the nut trees are inclined to go back to their original type. If we take our filberts, even the best varieties, the chances are that they will go back to the European type that they originally came from. I have proven it time and again on the farm down there. I don't think it wise for this association to send out seedlings.
THE SECRETARY: Mr. President, in order to bring this question to a head, I move that Mr. Jones's offer be accepted and put in to practice if a suitable plan can be devised and carried out in the estimation of the executive committee.