imum nut tree growing.

Indeed, to ascertain the true balance of all elements that are
invariably essential to life, and their relationship to the elements
which are variably essential, would quite naturally appear to constitute
the quintessence of research still to be performed. We cannot control
such essential factors as climate, weather, sunshine, but man can
control the supply and adjustment of nutrients to trees, and it rests
entirely with him to do so.

There is one advantage a nut crop has over some other crops; it does not
have to be harvested before fully mature. Nut crops obtain the benefit
from elements that may be slowly assimilated during the season.

The following experimental and historical evidence and opinions have
come to my attention, and I record them for what interest they may have.
Past experience is often discarded as too old, but many a time an
experimenter was ahead of his time, and his work remained unrecognized,
so that now some old references can be revived and presented as
novelties. What the past ignored may indeed be due to the ignorance of
those who did the ignoring.

1) The Chestnut Blight

The chestnut blight, for instance, of a generation ago, may be
re-examined in the light of the proceedings before a chestnut blight
conference, held at Harrisburg, Penna., February 20-21, 1912. A chestnut
extract manufacturer, a Mr. W. M. Benson[3], stated at the time that in
his experience the best extracts were made from trees high in lime. "A
blighted tree," he stated, "is simply a tree in the process of starving
to death for lack of lime." Maps showed that the blight was worst where
there was least lime, and that the chestnut trees died last in
Tennessee, where soils are high in lime. Analysis showed that chestnuts
contained 40% lime, an unheard of amount. That this high test may
reflect a faulty condition is pointed out later.

All I can add to this is that there is an English Walnut Tree, Alpine
variety, on the farm of Mr. Deknatel, on Route 202, Chalfont, Penna.,
which is remarkable for its virility and crops of large nuts. This tree
grows in a place protected by house and barn near a well, in limestone
soil. It resisted the severe winters of 1935 and 1936, when many other
English Walnuts in the vicinity died. My opinion is that any tree in
that location would be an outstanding tree; and vice versa, had that
particular tree been planted in another location, it would have done no
better