Varieties experiencing from 20 to 50 per cent of wood killing were Barcelona, Red Aveline, Montebello, Berger's Zellernuss, Einzeltragende Kegelformige, Heynick's Zellernuss, Prolifique a Coque serre, Sickler's Zellernuss, Voile Zellernuss, and Russ.
In the following varieties from 5 to 20 per cent of the wood was winter-killed: Minna, Bollwiller, Duchess of Edinboro, Pearson's Prolific, The Shah, Barr's Zellernuss, Kunzemuller's Zellernuss, Liegel's Zellernuss, Romische Nuss, Schlesierin, Truchsess Zellernuss, Vollkugel and Littlepage.
Varieties which are not injured at all or less than five per cent were Clackamas, Cosford, Daviana, Early Globe, English Cluster, Kentish Cob, Fertile de Coutard, Italian Red, Medium Long, Oregon, Purple Aveline, Red Lambert, White Aveline, White Lambert, D'Alger, Cannon Ball, Duke of Edinburgh, Kentish filbert, Prolific Closehead, Red Skinned, Eckige Barcelonaer, Kadetten Zellernuss, Ludolph's Zellernuss, Luisen's Zellernuss, Kruse, Neue Riesennuss and Rush and Winkler.
It is evident from this data that although many filbert varieties are subject to serious winter injury, there are still a number to choose from that are sufficiently hardy under western New York conditions.
Variety Notes
The Station variety collection has grown considerably since I discussed filberts before you in 1929. At that time the collection consisted of 28 varieties; today there are under test at Geneva 99 varieties of Corylus avellana, five varieties of Corylus americana, five Jones seedlings, and six species of Corylus, or a total of 115 forms.
Later observations on the original orchard have indicated that the original variety recommendations should be modified. Certain varieties imported from Europe and renamed, or were misnamed when imported, and that have been disseminated by nurseries are apparently identical with certain German varieties recently imported by the Geneva Station. Preliminary observations indicate that some of these recently imported German sorts are worthy of further attention.
Barcelona which was the most productive variety during the first few years has been falling behind in yields the past two seasons. This, coupled with the winter killing of wood and catkins last winter, makes Barcelona a doubtful variety to plant.
Italian Red in 1932 averaged nearly eight pounds of nuts to the tree, the heaviest yield of any variety in the orchard. The crop this year promises to be satisfactory and one of the largest in the orchard, in a season when varieties generally are very light. S. H. Graham of Ithaca reports that "Italian Red has been the best and most regular bearer of any of the European filberts" that he has tried.
Kentish Cob averaged five pounds per tree last year and Cosford over four pounds. The latter variety is catkin hardy and should be in every planting. White Lambert and Red Lambert, still light croppers, possess very hardy catkins and for that reason deserve trial.