Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-30
Culture of the Chestnut.

A correspondent of the New York IT5b-
une writes as follows in answer to an IN
qulryrelating to the culture Of the chest
nut in the West:
The planting of timber on our western
pralries should be the first thought OF the
settler; but what variety of trees and how
TO start them are questions requiring
some consideration. Willow and other
soft woods, although ofvery rapid growth,
should never take precedence OF more
useful species, as the chestnut and locust
The latter grows rapidly enough, IS IN
valuable for fencing material, and IN ad-
ditlon the chestnut pays well IN the sale
Ofits nuts.
The American species should be set out
IN groves for timber; the rows eight feet
apart each way, with corn planted be-
tween. Young seedlings will thus re-
ceIVe protecting shade, as we'll as cultl-
vatlon, until they are of sufficient age to
DO without either. They should never be
trimmed, as the lower branches afford
ample protection to the bodies, and in
after years nature will perform this duty
IN due time and in a proper manner. If
IN the way of the CultivatOr an occasional
limb may be shortened in, but never cut
close to the body. Trees grow much bet
ter and are always healthier when the
lower limbs are allowed to shelter the
main trunks all the way to the ground.
My success in grating has been varied.
Inc hrst attempt was undertaken IN the
belief that the sciOns must be kept dor
mant until the stocks had grown and
were developing their young buds. In
consequence l was obliged to wrap the
sclons and lay them in contact with ice
until the proper time arrived to use them.
subsequent experience, however, con-
vinces me that | was in error, and that
can be more successful by performing the
operation just previous to the moving of
the sap. My present practice is to cut
the scions very early in the spring, and
keep them fresh and cool (by covering
them with soil on the north side of a
building where the sun never shines) I'M
til needed. Latterly | have cut them
about the middle of March and grated
about the 1st of April; difference of lati-
tude must Of course influence other cult
vatOrs in the West.
Chestnuts are not so readily grated as
apples and pears; they are variable, and
we can never feel assured that success
will be certain fact; taking one year
with another, so per cent will be fair
average. AS an illustration, few years
since | inserted about forty gratis in the
head of a large tree, and but five failed.
One week later placed twenty-five crafts
on another tree, and but five out Of the
number grew. Still one week later than
the last l inserted twenty-five CRAFTS in an
other tree, and but three survived. Bud
ding is still less satisfactory, and [ have
now relinQuiShed l. altogether.
Where one has a particular variety of
uncommon size and quality, grating
must be resOrted to, else in few genera
tiOns it will return to it's n )rmal cOndi-
tion-that OF small and comparatively
worthless fruit; still [ believe that in
the far West, where no inferior varieties
are grown, Chestnuts may be raised pure
from seed year after year. The nuts may
be planted at once in hills similar to corn
or they may be transplanted from nursery
rows at one or two years of age. The
French variety, so-called will produce
better than the Spanish, and the trees are
more compactin habit. resembling in the
latter respect round-headed apple tree.
These foreign varieties are, however, in
ferior in quality to our native species
when eaten in a raw state; but after
roasting or boiling there is no apparent
distinction excepting in size.
Planting chestnuts in orchards, say
thirty feet distant each way, has many
recommendations. The ground can be
cropped for several years, and the grass
and weeds kept free from the bodies,
thus proving a sure protection from mice,
which commit sad havoc on the bark.
An orchard of this character would come
into bearing so early and produce so
abundantly that remuneration would
prove a sure fact.