ursery, nuts from nine wild trees and Thomas nuts were planted. Kernel
weights ranged from 1.21 to 5.61 grams; nut weight from 6.5 grams to
24.3 grams.

~Results~: With one exception where germination was poor, nuts with
small kernels produced small seedlings and nuts with large kernels
produced large seedlings. Under nursery conditions the need for
uniformly large seedlings for budding and grafting is apparent. The
results of this study indicated the desirability of using seed nuts with
large kernels for production of understocks.

Seedbed and Budding Studies

Density of stand in seedbeds influences seedling size. As size of
seedling is important in budding and grafting black walnut, information
on the most desirable spacing in seedbeds was needed. In three seedbeds
Thomas nuts were planted in three nut spacings: 4 x 4 inches, 5 x 5
inches, and 6 x 7 inches. In other plots nuts were planted 4 x 4 inches
and after emergence the stand was thinned. All seedlings from the
thinning test were set out in nursery rows the following spring and
those large enough were budded in the summer.

~Results~: Increasing the spacing produced seedlings of larger girth and
shorter height--a desirable characteristic in black walnut budding
stocks. The most desirable spacing appeared to be 6 x 7 inches. Even
though the number of seedlings resulting from this spacing was
approximately half the number produced at 4 x 4 inches spacing, more
usable seedlings were produced at the wider spacing.

Thinning seedlings spaced 4 x 4 inches resulted in larger girth of those
remaining--very similar in size to seedlings spaced 5 x 5 inches.
Seedlings from the thinned and unthinned plots averaged 0.62 cm. and
0.55 cm. in diameter, respectively. In the nursery row 73 percent of the
larger transplanted seedlings were large enough for budding the
following summer, while only 59 percent of the smaller seedlings
attained proper size. Bud survival was 22 percent on the larger stocks
indicating the desirability of using large stocks.

My Experiments, Gambles and Failures

John Davidson, Xenia, Ohio

In reading the past reports of this Association, I find one thing
lacking. One becomes interested in a report dated, let us say, 10 or 20
years ago, which contains an account of a project then started. It had
great possibilities. What was the outcome? We do not know. No mention of
it has appeared since. Did it fail? Let us say it did. Why? The answe