Oregon, Purple Aveline, and English Cluster bear heavy crops, but are difficult to husk and the nuts too small for market. For home use they should be very satisfactory.
Among the newer nuts fruiting last year for the first time, Neue Riesennuss, originating in Germany in 1871, is promising. It is one of the largest in the Station collection, is a bright light brown in color with slightly darker stripes, and last winter experienced very little catkin injury and no wood injury. As yet nothing is known of its productiveness in this country, but in Germany it is said to be productive.
Some of the nuts distributed in this country by Mr. Vollertsen of Rochester are proving identical with some of the German sorts recently imported by the Station. I do not intend to suggest now that the name of the varieties in this country be changed to those of the varieties with which they are identical. Later when all of these imported varieties are in full bearing the matter of changing names will be brought to your attention again.
Red Lambert (of Vollertsen) is identical with Beethe's Zeller, and Italian Red (of Vollertsen) is identical with Gustav's Zeller. Minna (of Vollertsen) is not the Minna of German descriptions.
Filbert Breeding
The breeding work with filberts is following two lines. Hardiness of wood and catkin is of prime importance and to develop varieties satisfactorily in these respects those varieties that have proved hardy are being crossed with different sorts that have desirable nut and tree characters. Hardiness is also being sought by crossing the Rush native hazel with varieties of Corylus avellana. 535 trees from this cross, made by Mr. Reed, are now growing in a fruiting plantation at the Station, and several hundred more from other crosses are in the nursery row. With this wealth of material coming along, it is reasonable to assume that the day is not far distant when satisfactory varieties will be available for northern planting.
Developing a Walnut Grove as a Side Line Job as a Bee Keeper
L. K. Hostetter
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
In discussing this topic I shall give you some of my doings in my bee business and nut growing.