Part 2
Allaman, R. P., R. No. 1, Harrisburg Allen, Lt. Col. Thomas H., St. Thomas Banks, H. C., R. No. 1, Hollortown Barnhart, Emmert M., R. No. 4, Waynesboro Baum, Dr. F. L., Boyertown Beard, H. K., R. No. 1, Sheridan Blair, Dr. G. D., 702 N. Homewood Ave., Pittsburgh Bowen, John C., R. No. 1, Macungie Brenneman, John E., R. No. 6, Lancaster Brown, Morrison, Carson Long Military Academy, New Bloomfleld Creasy, Luther P., Catawissa Dewey, Richard, Box 41, Peckville Driver, Warren M., R. No. 4, Bethlehem Diefenderfer, C. E., 918 3rd St., Fullerton Duckham, William C., R. No. 2, Allison Park Ebling, Aaron L., R. No. 2, Reading Ellenberger, Herman A., 333 S. Burrows St., State College Etter, Fayette, P. O. Box 57, Lemasters Gebhardt, F. C., 140 East 29th St., Erie Heckler, George Snyder, Hatfield Heilman, R. H., 2303 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh Hershey, John W., Nut Tree Nurseries, Downingtown High Tor Nursery, R. No. 6, Pittsburgh Hostetter, C. F., Bird-In-Hand Hostetter, L. K., R. No. 3, Lancaster Jackson, Schuyler, New Hope Johnson, Robert F., R. No. 5, Box 56, Crafton Jones, Dr. Truman W., Coatesville Jones, Miss Mildred, P. O. Box 356, Lancaster Kaufman, M. M., Clarion Kirk, DeNard B., Forest Grove Kline, Dr. Florence M., 909 Arlington Apts., Corner Acken and Center Aves., Pittsburgh Leach, Will, Court House, Scranton Long, Carleton C., 141 Walnut St., Beaver Losch, Walter, 133 E. High St., Topston Lutz, Stanley W., Egypt Mattoon, H. Gleason, 1008 Commercial Trust Bldg., Philadelphia McCartney, T. Lupton, Room 1, Horticultural Bldg., State College Miller, Robert O., 3rd and Ridge St., Emmaus Moyer, Philip S., Union Trust Bldg., Harrisburg Owens, G. F., 700 E. Line Ave., Ellwood City Reidler, Paul G., Ashland Rial, John, 528 Harrison Ave., Greensburg *Rick, John, 439 Pennsylvania Sq., Reading Ruch, George, Huntingdon Valley Rupp, Edward E., Jr., 57 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle Sameth, Sigmund, Grandeval Farm, R. No. 3, Kutztown Schaible, Percy, Upper Black Eddy Schmidt, Albert J., 534 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh Siebley, J. W., Star Route, Landisburg Shelly, David B., R. No. 2, Elizabethtown Silin, I. J., Echo Mountain, Fairview Smith, Dr. J. Russell, 550 Elm Ave., Swarthmore Southampton Nurseries, Southampton Stoebener, Harry W., 6227 Penn. Ave., Pittsburgh Theiss, Dr. Lewis E., Bucknell University, Lewisburg Waggoner, Charles W., 432 Harmony Ave., Rochester *Wister, John C., Clarkson Ave. and Wister St., Germantown Wood, Wayne, R. No. 1, Newville Wright, Ross Pier, 235 West 6th St., Eric
RHODE ISLAND
**Allen, Philip, 178 Dorance St., Providence R. I. State College, Library Dept., Green Hall, Kingston
SOUTH AMERICA
Pereda, Celedonia V., Arroyo 1142, Buenos Aires, Argentina
SOUTH CAROLINA
Bregger, John T., Clemson
SOUTH DAKOTA
Bradley, Homer L., Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, Martin
TENNESSEE
Chase, Capt. Spencer B., Hqs. Det. Sta. Camp, Camp Tyson Kirk, Charles H., Oak Ridge Howell Nurseries, Sweetwater McDaniel, J. C., P. O. Box 331, Brownsville Rhodes, G. B., R. 2, Covington Zarger, Thomas G., Norris
TEXAS
Carroll, Y. D., 2093 McFadden St., Beaumont Florida, Kaufman, Box 154, Rotan Price, W. S., Jr., Gustine
UTAH
Oleson, Granville, 1210 Laird Ave., Salt Lake City, 5 Petterson, Harlan D., 2164 Jefferson Ave., Ogden
VERMONT
Aldrich, A. W., R. No. 3, Springfield *Ellis, Zenas H., Fair Haven Foster, Forest K., West Topsham
VIRGINIA
Acker, E. D., Co., Broadway Brewster, Stanley II., "Cerro Cordo," Gainesville Burton, Geo. L., 728 College St., Bedford Carey, Graham, Fair Haven Dickerson, T. C., 316 56th St., Newport News Gibbs, H. R., McLean Johnson, Dr. Walt R., 2602 B. Monument Ave., Richmond Landess, S. S., 2103 N. Quantico St., Arlington Lewis, Pvt. Hewlett W., H. & H. Co., 938 Engr. Avn. Cam. Bn., A. A. B., Richmond Morse, Chandler, Valross, R. No. 5, Alexandria Nix, Robert W., Jr., Lucketts Peters, John Rogers, P. O. Box 37, McLean Pertzoff, Dr. V. A., Carter's Bridge Stoke, H. F., 1420 Watts Ave., Roanoke Stoke, Dr. John H., 408-10 Boxley Bldg., Roanoke Varcity Products Co., 5 Middlebrook Ave., Staunton Webb, John, Hillsville Zimmerman, Ruth, Bridgewater
WASHINGTON
Altman, Mrs. H. E., Cedarbrook Nut Farm, Nooksack Barth, J. H., Box 1827, R. No. 3, Spokane Carey, Joseph E., 4219 Letona Ave., Seattle Clark, R. W., 4221 Phinney Ave., Seattle Denman, George L., 1319 East Nina Ave., Spokane Ferris, Major Hiram B., P. O. Box 74, Spokane Kling, William L., R. No. 2, Box 230, Clarkston Linkletter, F. D., 8034 35th Ave. N. E., Seattle Lynn Tuttle Nursery, The Heights, Clarkston Martin, Fred A., Star Route, Chelan Naderman, G. W., R. No. 1, Box 370, Olympia Shane Bros., Vashon Wilson, John A., East 1517 16th Ave., Spokane
WEST VIRGINIA
Cannaday, Dr. John E., Charleston General Hospital, Charleston Hoover, Wendell W., Webster Springs Slotkin, Meyer S., 1671 6th Ave., Huntington, 1
WISCONSIN
Aoppler, C W., Box 239, Oconomowoc Bassett, W. S., 1522 Main St., La Crosse Dopkins, Marvin, R. No. 1, River Falls Downs, M. L., 1024 N. Leminwah St., Appleton Koelsch, Norman, Jackson Zinn, Walter G., P. O. Box 747, Milwaukee
*Life Member **Contributing Member
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
_Name_--This Society shall be known as the NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED.
ARTICLE II
_Object_--Its object shall be the promotion of interest in nut-bearing plants, their products and their culture.
ARTICLE III
_Membership_--Membership in this society shall be open to all persons who desire to further nut culture, without reference to place of residence or nationality, subject to the rules and regulations of the committee on membership.
ARTICLE IV
_Officers_--There shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer, who shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting; and a board of directors consisting of six persons, of which the president, the two last retiring presidents, the vice-president, the secretary and the treasurer shall be members. There shall be a state vice-president from each state, dependency, or country represented in the membership of the association, who shall be appointed by the president.
ARTICLE V
_Election of Officers_--A committee of five members shall be elected at the annual meeting for the purpose of nominating officers for the following year.
ARTICLE VI
_Meetings_--The place and time of the annual meeting shall be selected by the membership in session or, in the event of no selection being made at this time, the board of directors shall choose the place and time for the holding of the annual convention. Such other meetings as may seem desirable may be called by the president and board of directors.
ARTICLE VII
_Quorum_--Ten members of the Association shall constitute a quorum but must include two of the four elected officers.
ARTICLE VIII
_Amendments_--This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual meeting, notice of such amendment having been read at the previous annual meeting, or copy of the proposed amendment having been mailed by any member to each member thirty days before the date of the annual meeting.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
_Committees_--The Association shall appoint standing committees as follows: On membership, on finance, on programme, on press and publication, on exhibits, on varieties and contests, on survey, and an auditing committee. The committee on membership may make recommendations to the Association as to the discipline or expulsion of any member.
ARTICLE II
_Fees_--Annual members shall pay two dollars annually. Contributing members shall pay ten dollars annually. Life members shall make one payment of fifty dollars and shall be exempt from further dues and shall be entitled to the same benefits as annual members. Honorary members shall be exempt from dues. "Perpetual" membership is eligible to any one who leaves at least five hundred dollars to the Association and such membership on payment of said sum to the Association shall entitle the name of the deceased to be forever enrolled in the list of members as "Perpetual" with the words "In Memoriam" added thereto. Funds received therefor shall be invested by the Treasurer in interest bearing securities legal for trust funds in the District of Columbia. Only the interest shall be expended by the Association. When such funds are in the treasury the Treasurer shall be bonded. Provided that in the event the Association becomes defunct or dissolves then, in that event, the Treasurer shall turn over any funds held in his hands for this purpose for such uses, individuals or companies that the donor may designate at the time he makes the bequest or the donation.
ARTICLE III
_Membership_--All annual memberships shall begin October 1st. Annual dues received from new members after April first shall entitle the new member to full membership until October first of that year and a credit of one-half annual dues for the following year.
ARTICLE IV
_Amendments_--By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at any meeting.
ARTICLE V
Members shall be sent a notification of annual dues at the time they are due and, if not paid within two months, they shall be sent a second notice, telling them that they are not in good standing on account of non-payment of dues and are not entitled to receive the annual report.
At the end of thirty days from the sending of the second notice, a third notice shall be sent notifying such members that, unless dues are paid within ten days from the receipt of this notice, their names will be dropped from the rolls for non-payment of dues.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
For the third time in the forty-four years of our existence our annual convention has been omitted. Each time this has been due to war conditions. The first was in 1918, the others in 1942 and 1943. No report was issued for 1918 but one was compiled for last year, and this present little volume will show that your members and officers are still functioning. We have great hope for the future.
An important part of this report is the result of the work of the Chairman of the Survey Committee, Mr. John Davidson, a good job well done. Considering the still elementary state of nut growing it is remarkable--a really immense undertaking. The responses to this survey show enthusiasm that is encouraging. The war and its emphasis on food seems to have increased interest in nut culture.
W. C. DEMING.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR 1942-43
The Association has had a successful year in spite of the war and the cessation of our annual meetings because of the restrictions on wartime travel. Interest in the Association and nut culture appears to be well-maintained. The program committee assembled a report for 1942 and is already working on one for 1943.
During the past year the membership increased from 400 as of August 10, 1942 to 466 as of July 1, 1943. If this rate of increase continues, we shall pass the 500 mark before the end of 1944. In the 1932 report 134 members were listed and each year since then has shown a substantial increase.
Accompanying this letter is a questionnaire from the survey committee which is designed to extract as much information as possible from the members. The secretary is especially interested in the section on personal information as it should give some idea as to the interests of the members and indicate how they may best be served by the officers and committees. The program committee can also use this information in preparing programs.
President Weschcke announces that the committees and state vice-presidents for 1942 will continue for another year.
The membership circulars which contain the list of nut nurseries and a list of publications on nut culture may be had from the secretary by all who wish to distribute it.
The sets of reports as now sold lack the report for 1935. The few remaining copies are being reserved for agricultural libraries. If members have copies of this report for which they no longer have any use their return to the secretary's office will be appreciated as it may make possible the supplying of complete sets to libraries.
Treasurer's Report
REPORT OF THE TREASURER--AUG. 15, 1942 to SEPT. 1, 1943
_Receipts:_
Memberships $774.15 (Philip Allen $10.00)
(Exchange .15) Sale of Reports 102.85 Sale of Index .75 Sale of Advertising (1941 Report) 5.00 Carl Weschcke Contribution 50.00 ------- $932.75 $932.75
_Disbursements:_
Fruit Grower Subscriptions 71.20 Printing and Mailing 1942 Report 328.37 Reporting 1941 Convention 32.50 Expense of President None Expense of Secretary 74.02 Expense of Treasurer 26.38 Supplies and Miscellaneous 26.71 ------- $559.18 $559.18 ------- -------
Excess of Receipts over Expenditures 373.57 Balance on Hand Aug. 15, 1942 216.05 ------- Balance on Hand Sept. 1, 1943 in North Linn Savings Bank $589.62
D. C. SNYDER, Treasurer
The Status of Nut Growing in 1943
SURVEY REPORT
JOHN DAVIDSON, _Chairman of Committee_
This survey of nut tree growing in the United States and Canada is a cross section of the industry and has been conducted through the membership of our Association. Questionnaires were submitted to all members, of whom a very satisfactory percentage responded with reports which usually were as complete as the age of the planted trees made possible. Our thanks are due to all who had the patience to reply to so searching a questionnaire. Their reward, we hope, will be increased by nuggets of information from others. The survey committee is indebted to the officers of the Association, to Mr. Slate particularly, who took care of the multigraphing and mailing drudgery, and to the experienced men who lent invaluable aid in formulating and revising the exhaustive and detailed questions.
The results are here set forth in three sections: Northern United States, Southern United States and Canadian. It is evident that trees which do well in the south may act very differently in the north; yet, to a certain and very important extent, the experience of the south has a bearing upon conditions in the north. For example, the pawpaw, though not a nut tree, has seemed to edge itself into the affections and interest of many nut tree men. It is in reality a tropical fruit which has adapted itself to northern latitudes. The pecan seems to be trying to do the same thing. Both illustrate a way of working that nature practices more or less with all species. By cross pollination and selection, human hands are having a part in speeding up this process of adaptation in pecans, Persian walnuts and other tender species. In fact, this is one of the jobs to which the Association is dedicated.
We wish here to pay tribute to the nurserymen of this Association. Most nurserymen are intelligent and honest but sometimes they have a tough time of it. Their worst competitor is a nurseryman who sells seedlings for named varieties, who advertises widely and prospers upon the work of others. When we think of the painstaking care of the honest nurseryman, of his days of drudgery, of the thousands of failed experimental trees and plants that he destroys, of the service he renders his fellows, we know that we should make slow progress without his help.
The conscientious worker in the experiment stations is in the same category. He does his best work largely for love of it.
In addition to many letters and other valuable sources of information this survey covers reports from more than 150 planters of named varieties of nut trees. Many are also planters of seedlings from selected and named varieties with which they are experimenting and from which they are making selections for future tests. Some are experimenting with cross pollination. As one example of careful work, we have now on file blue prints from the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development, from Gerald A. Miller, of Trenton, showing exact locations by name and number of one of the largest variety collections of hybrid walnut trees in the world. From the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Arthur H. Graves, Curator, we have valuable records of the breeding of chestnut trees, with selections made primarily for tree growth and timber production. There is also hope for some good nuts from the trees. The timber, in money value, is of course more important than the nuts. If successful, we shall again have both.
It is difficult to interest "hurry-up" Americans in planting trees for future generations. They want results now. But the sooner we develop reliable and adaptable fruiting trees for general planting, the sooner will thousands of people begin to plant trees. The late rapid growth of membership in this Association shows an awakened interest that could be swollen into a mighty flood of tree planters if good trees were available. If there were more agencies like the Tennessee Valley Authority, more trees of the better sort would be developed. Its tree crop activities have now been transferred to a "Forest Resources Division" under the supervision of Mr. W. H. Cummings, and its testing and selection work is going ahead steadily. Thomas G. Zarger, Jr., Botanist, is handling the black walnut work in connection with other investigations of "Minor Forest Products." The headquarters is at Norris, Tennessee. Charles V. Kline, now Assistant Chief of the Watershed Protection Division, still keeps his old interest in the black walnut and tree crop program. Definite and important results are bound to follow from so sustained and well organized a project. Most state agencies complain of lack of appropriations and help. The real trouble lies in lack of vision and knowledge upon the part of legislators. The President has proposed an immense program of communications and highway development as a post-war project. We suggest that fruitful land is still more important, and that highways through desert countries are almost unknown except as means for getting from one fruitful land to another. Perhaps this Association could do more than it has done toward spreading the gospel among legislatures.
The largest source of contribution to the survey is, of course, from the Northern United States. For purposes of tabulation, we have included everything north of Central Tennessee in this class. Nearly one hundred planters of nut trees contribute their experiences in this section. Of the lot, only fourteen of them plant trees for sale as nurserymen. Today we could keep more of them with stocks sold out. Seventy-six are interested in planting primarily for the production of nuts; fifty-seven, in grafting and budding trees from named varieties; forty-five in planting seed from the better varieties, either for production of stocks upon which to graft or, in large quantities, for observation and selection. As many as twenty-six are doing important work in hybridizing. Fifty-one are top-working young trees to better varieties. Only twenty-one count upon the growth of timber for a part of their profit. But certainly the growth of timber, especially black walnut, is not an item to be left out of consideration. Much, here, depends upon the manner of planting, whether in orchard or forest formation. However, even in orchard plantings, the stumps alone are valuable for beautifully patterned veneers.
Fifty-seven correspondents tell us that they are testing standard varieties, while forty-two are interested in discovering and developing new varieties, certainly an index to the pioneering and creative urge which dominates many of our members. As is to be expected, most of our newer members are thus far feeling their way by growing a few of the better varieties for home use. Only nine of the whole number say that they are working with nut trees at an experiment station.
As to the species of trees being planted, black walnut heads the list with eighty-nine planters. Persian walnuts are next with seventy-three, including five who specify Carpathians or Circassians. Sixty-eight are planting Chinese chestnuts, and sixty-four hickories. Filberts and pecans are tied with fifty planters each; forty-eight say they are planting hazels; forty-three heartnuts; and forty-two persimmons--if we may include these trees for the time being among the nuts. Thirty-eight are planting butternuts; thirty-two, Japanese Walnuts; twenty-eight, pawpaws; twenty-seven, mulberries; twenty-four, Japanese chestnuts. After these, in order, come almonds along the southern borders, beech toward the north, hicans, tree hazels, oaks, Japanese persimmons, honey-locust, jujube, black locust (the correspondent explains, "for bees and chickens"), Manchurian walnuts, and finally, coral and service berries.
As an indication of the adaptation of species and varieties to the climates in which these men, and several women, are working, they listed at out request the following native trees found most plentifully in their sections. Black walnuts and hickories stand at the head of the list, as reported by seventy-five correspondents each. Then follow in order, butternuts, hazel, beech, oaks (probably overlooked by many), pecans and chestnuts.
Of nut trees found sparingly in these sections, butternut trees, surprisingly, take first place, indicating broad adaptation but a certain weakness, perhaps a slow susceptibility to blight or fungi, which prevents this tree from being found plentifully. It is significant that it is found most plentifully in the more rigorous areas of New England where fungous ravages are discouraged by cold. Add chinquapins to the number of scarce trees, and the list is complete.
As a further gauge of climatic conditions, fifty reported that peaches are reliably hardy in their sections, while fifty said they are not. This, according to the late Thomas P. Littlepage, is a fairly reliable index to the climatic adaptability of present varieties of northern grown pecans. Ninety-two planters reported that their seasons are long enough to mature Concord grapes. Only four said "no." For Catawba grapes? "Yes," said forty-two; "No," fourteen. For field corn? "Yes," ninety-three; "No," four. This question was improperly asked. Field corn varies too widely in length of maturity for accuracy in this respect.
Lowest temperatures expected range from 8°F above to 30°F below zero, with the usual lower range in the greater portion of the northern states, from zero to 12° below. Lowest known temperatures range all the way from 10° to 52° below, but in most portions from 15° to 35° below.
Returns indicate that winter injury is not always, nor even usually, the result of low temperatures but, rather, to the condition in which the trees enter the winter. If late excessive growth leaves them with wood not wholly dormant, they suffer. If not, they will stand extraordinary low temperatures with little or no damage. One way to guard against this damage is by preventing late growth. A means of doing this will be found in an important contribution by Mr. H. P. Burgart, of Union City, Michigan. Mr. Burgart says:
"After 21 years of experience with growing, selling and planting nut trees, I have had to have a neighbor show me the best way to care successfully for them. I have studied and practiced Mr. Baad's methods, and in comparing them with my former practice, and with the practice of others who have failed with their trees, I will suggest the following cultural procedure to be given all plantings when possible, and to be continued for at least three years, or even longer for best nut production.
"Nut trees should be given clean cultivation right after being planted (in the spring) and until August 1st. This encourages root growth and conserves moisture. Then sow a cover crop of rye, cow peas or soy beans to take up moisture, slow up growth and prevent the late sappy condition that is often responsible for winter injury. Leave the cover crop over winter and turn it under in the spring for humus. Before turning under, a light application of some kind of manure, along with some superphosphate and potash, should be sprinkled around each tree. Then thorough cultivation again until August, and repeat.
"Soil for nut trees should be tested for acidity, nitrogen, phosphate and potash. It has been determined that most nut trees prefer a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0; but I have frequently found people planting trees on soils of 4.0 and 5.0, where nothing but sickly growth could be expected.