Dr. Smith: Perhaps I should not have used the word ignorant. A farm hand can spray and make a pretty good crop of apples.
Dr. Zimmerman: No, he can't do it. It hasn't been easy. I have run into all kinds of obstacles. As soon as I injure the stock a little bit the blight takes it. As soon as I can raise them on their own roots it will be all right. That will come.
Dr. Smith: Have you seen chestnut grafts root as the apple does?
Dr. Zimmerman: Yes, right below the surface. A couple of them were that long. They will send out roots. Then I have noticed on some, that at the place where I grafted the callus got quite large. It got too dry and died off. I have never rooted American chestnut cuttings. I have rooted some Chinese chestnuts.
The President: Some of the Chinese chestnuts root quite readily from those small shoots that come up from the ground. I conducted a little experiment in trying to propagate the Chinese chestnuts by cuttings. I made 144 cuttings. They all dutifully and beautifully died. I don't mean to say that the Chinese chestnut cannot be rooted by cuttings.
Dr. Zimmerman: I noticed one chestnut that was toppling over and the leaves were withering. The rats had taken it off just below the ground. I couldn't find a root anywhere, but it was callused. I cut it back and planted it again. It must have roots now for it is still green. Otherwise it wouldn't live this long.
The President: Your experiments are of very great interest. If you are successful you will deserve the gratitude of this and future generations.
Mr. Harrington: Do you remember when we were down at the Riehl nursery that we ran into a chestnut that produces 7 to 9 in a burr?
The President: I remember one tree that had a great many nuts.
Mr. Harrington: I had one with 7 nuts and they said there were some with 9. Was that the one named Gibbons?