“September 7 and 8:  Wild hazels ripe and picked at this time. 
     (Their kernels showed no shrinkage by October 25.)

September 14 and 15:  I picked ripe nuts from hazilbert No. 5 which seems to be the first to ripen.  Also picked half of the European filberts. (There was slight shrinkage in the kernels of the latter a few weeks later showing that they could have stayed on the trees another week to advantage.)

     All of the nuts of a Jones hybrid, which is a cross between Rush
     and some European variety such as Italian Red, could have been
     picked as they were ripe.  Some were picked.

The almond-shaped filbert classified as the White Aveline type, was not quite ripe; neither were hazilberts No. 2 and No. 4, nor the Gellatly filberts.  Wild hazelnuts at this time had dry husks and were falling off the bushes or being cut down by mice.

     September 21 and 22:  The remaining European filberts of the
     imported plants were picked.  Also, I picked half of the White
     Aveline type nuts.

[Illustration:  Carlola Hazilberts No. 5, about 8/10/42.  This is the earliest ripening and thinnest shell of the large type hazilberts, not the largest size however.  Carlola Weschcke shown in picture.  Photo by C. Weschcke]

September 28 and 29:  We picked most of the nuts remaining on hazilbert No. 5 and the remainder of the White Aveline type.  At this time we record a heavy frost which occurred during the previous week, that is, between September 22 and 28th.  Since it froze water it was considered a “killing” frost.  However, the damage was spotty all over the orchard, most things continuing to develop and ripen.  Winkler hazels picked and examined at this time showed them far from ripe.  Hazilberts growing next to limestone walls on the south side showed no signs of frost damage whereas the Winkler, on higher ground, showed severe damage to the leaves and the husks of the nuts which immediately started to turn brown.  Leaves of other filbert plants in the vicinity showed no frost damage and the very few nuts that had been left on, such as those of the Jones hybrid, were undamaged.

     October 5 and 6:  Picked all of hazilbert No. 2 except the last two
     nuts.

     Gellatly filberts were picked about October 10 and were ripe at
     that time.

October 11 to 13:  Two English walnuts were picked and found to be as ripe as they would get.  These as well as the black walnuts showed distinct signs of lacking summer heat needed for their proper development.  The last two nuts on hazilbert No. 2 and the only nut on hazilbert No. 4 were picked at this time and were ripe.  Chestnut burrs had opened up and the nuts enclosed were fully mature.

October 19 and 20:  I found the last of the Winkler hazelnuts had been picked