ess were set out. Hickory varieties and hybrids planted
in 1918 and 1919 were Kirtland, Weiker, Stanley, Siers, Hales and
McCallister. We planted a few trees of the Franquette Persian walnut,
the Indiana, Niblack and Posey pecans and a few filberts such as Minnas
Zellernuss, Daviana, and Large Globe. Some seedling trees of the
shagbark hickory also were set out in 1918 and 1919.

To supplement this test somewhat similar collections were sent to
cooperators in what seemed to be favorable locations.

We had the usual difficulty in establishing these trees and winter
temperature eliminated all the pecans, sweet chestnuts, Persian, walnuts
and filberts. Some of the seedling hickories survived and have grown
vigorously but after thirty-two years have borne no nuts.

Since 1939 cooperative work has been under way with Professor R. E.
Hodgson at the Southeast Experiment Station, Waseca. Efforts there
mainly have been to establish varieties of black walnut and hickory by
grafting. Black walnut and hickory varieties have been grafted also at
the Fruit Breeding Farm, Excelsior.

The accompanying record is taken from a report for the Experiment
Station in 1949. It should tell you in brief the status of our
investigations at present.

Very truly yours,
W. G. BRIERLEY

University of Minnesota
Department of Agriculture
Division of Horticulture

Nature and Extent of Work Done this Year

All black walnut and hickory trees made fairly satisfactory growth in
1948 in spite of deficient rainfall. The "Gideon Seedling Hickories"
(~Carya laciniosa~) planted in 1945 have become established at Waseca,
Rochester, Lakeville, Mound and at the Fruit Breeding Farm.

Attempts to establish nut varieties by top-working on seedling trees
again met with poor success. At Waseca 5 of 14 hickory grafts and 4 of
25 black walnut grafts grew. At the Fruit Breeding Farm only 6 of 33
hickory grafts grew. In this case, the poor results were due in large
part to use of an asphalt grafting compound which injured the callus
tissue at the union. Better than usual success was obtained with black
walnuts as 19 of 37 grafts grew.

As in previous seasons, the best temperature for storage of scion wood
was 34 to 36 degrees F.

Major Results

The best black walnut varieties for Minnesota are Thomas, Ohio,
Stambaugh, Smith and Schwartz. Of these Thomas produces the best nuts,
but the tree is somewhat straggly in growth. The Ohio produces