The Nut Cultural Project so generously supported by Mr. W. K. Kellogg of Battle Creek made good progress during the season of 1933. The various phases of this project are briefly discussed under their separate headings as follows:
Search for Superior Trees
This feature of our nut cultural programme is of the utmost importance and will continue to be so until the entire state has been thoroughly explored. In our search we have been greatly helped by interested people throughout the state and elsewhere who report the existence of good trees or who send specimens of nuts from superior trees. This voluntary help is very useful and is much appreciated.
Of the various methods of searching for good trees, nut contests are the most efficient and economical. Through the medium of national contests this Association has discovered many good varieties, and several of these new varieties are now being propagated. In view of the discoveries resulting from the Association contest in 1929 and our state contest in the same year, it was deemed advisable to stage another contest in 1932.
An article setting forth the terms of the contest was sent to all the daily, weekly, and agricultural and horticultural journals and was given very wide publicity by these press agencies. A great deal of interest was shown in our contest and more than 1600 exhibits were entered by approximately 700 exhibitors.
Several good strains were brought to light by this contest, most of which were unknown before the contest was staged. The prize winners and the awards are as follows:
| Black Walnuts | |
| Daniel Beck, Hamilton, Mich. | 1st $15.00 |
| Harry Webber, Cincinnati, Ohio | 2nd $10.00 |
| E. Gray, Williamston, Mich. | 3rd $ 5.00 |
| Hickories | |
| Mrs. Ray D. Mann, Davison, Michigan 1st $15.00 | |
| D. Miller, North Branch, Mich. | 2nd $10.00 |
| Lyle Hause, Fowlerville, Mich. | 3rd $ 5.00 |
| English Walnuts | |
| Harry Larsen, Ionia, Mich. | 1st $10.00 |
| D. B. Lewis, Vassar, Mich. | 2nd $ 5.00 |
| J. W. Jockett, Hart Mich. | 3rd $ 3.00 |
| Butternuts | |
| Claude Mitchell, Scotland, Ont. | 1st $10.00 |
| M. E. Alverson, Howard City, Mich. | 2nd $ 5.00 |
| Frank Luther, Fairgrove, Mich. | 3rd $ 3.00 |
| Heartnuts | |
| Claude Mitchell, Scotland, Ont. | 1st $10.00 |
| Fred Bourne, Milford, Mich. | 2nd $ 5.00 |
| J. U. Gellatly, Gellatly, B. C. | 3rd $ 3.00 |
| Chestnuts (Hybrids) | |
| John Dunbar, Oshtemo, Mich. | 1st $10.00 |
| D. N. Dean, Shelbyville, Mich. | 2nd $ 5.00 |
| J. W. Jockett, Hart, Mich. | 3rd $ 3.00 |
| Jap. Walnuts | |
| Harold English, Chatham, Ont. | 1st $10.00 |
| Harold Evers, Petoskey, Mich. | 2nd $ 5.00 |
| Bob Cardinell | 3rd $ 3.00 |
If and when another contest is held a larger number of prizes will be given provided sufficient funds are available. The experience gained in the 1929 and 1932 contests indicates the desirability of holding at least three contests and five would be better, and to have the contests held annually. It is very difficult to advertise a nut contest so that every person in rural sections knows of it and moreover, even if it were thoroughly advertised in any one year, it would not be possible to get nuts from all good trees because of the irregularity in fruiting habit of nut trees. The experience of others who stage contests will substantiate this opinion.
It is a great satisfaction to record the discovery of some promising pecan trees near Vandalia on the farm of Clyde Westphal. These trees were reported to me by Mr. Harry Burgart of Union City, and at the first opportunity I went with Mr. Burgart to examine the trees. There are 19 trees in the grove and the largest and best fruited tree is about 45 feet tall and nearly one foot in diameter at the base. The nuts are of medium size, crack easily, and contain kernels of good quality. A good crop was borne last year and other satisfactory crops have been secured for several years. It is quite likely that this tree would not mature nuts in a short growing season or in a season of low heat units, but the fact that it has done so well in recent years in growth and nut production is very encouraging, indeed. Plans are being made to propagate this strain.
Another good pecan sample was received from Mr. B. B. Dowell of Paulding, Ohio. This tree is hardy and produces nuts slightly larger than the Westphal tree. The nuts have good cracking quality and flavor of kernel and are worth propagating for northern regions.