hould be to
produce a streamlined black walnut, a thin-shelled, good-cracking,
fast-growing walnut.

The black walnut is, indeed, a regal tree. It grows all over the State.
Here is a tree of almost infinite variation. What an opportunity for the
genetic scientist! What an opportunity for the nut specialist!

In connection with the improvement of the black walnut as a nut and
timber tree, the specialist might well investigate the English or
Persian walnut. What about the possibilities of Circassian walnut
lumber? What is to prevent the growers and the specialist from planting
the English walnut for timber? Here in Northern Ohio, English walnut
trees have been cut for timber. There are probably several hundred
English walnut trees scattered through the northern counties of Ohio.
Some of them are from 10 to 18 inches in diameter. A few are second
generation. As these trees seem to be fairly rapid growers it would seem
reasonable that nuts from these hardy trees would grow into valuable
timber, apart from the value of the nuts.

Perhaps all these aspirations and aims seem Utopian. Probably such a
program would keep a dozen workers occupied. In cooperation with the
Forestry Department, however, students might be assigned to study
certain phases of nut culture. A Ph.D. dissertation might well be
written on the variation of the Thomas walnut in Ohio.

In conclusion, the Ohio growers will try to produce better nut trees.
Through prize contests they hope to find what nature has produced.
Through the services of a scientist they hope to find what man can
produce. The two aims dovetail. We are reasonably certain of the prize
contests; we are not yet certain of securing the nut scientist.

Ohio is host to the NNGA this year. May the Ohio growers ask you for
your moral support in this venture? The NNGA is the mother organization.
Through the efforts of the officers, past and present, the association
is in a flourishing condition with prospects of a very bright future.
Whatever we do in Ohio, whatever will be done in other states and
countries will be a monument to the NNGA. The groping years, the hard
years, are behind. The spade work has been done. We want you to feel
that the aims and aspirations of the Ohio growers sprang from your
advice, your experiments and enthusiasm.

I would like to add a final word about the unique advantage we enjoy
here in Ohio. We have the cooperation of a powerful and excellent farm
paper, "The