I have recorded my observations of these antagonisms and friendships between trees and plants to show that they are a reality which should be taken into consideration in grouping and transplanting.  Such warnings are infrequent because some people may mistake them as condemnations of certain favorite trees.  I do not intend them as such, for these plants are often valuable and worthwhile.  This ability which they have developed through the many years of their existence is a guarantee of the sturdiness and strength of their family and species, not at all a quality to be condemned.

CONCLUSION

If I had written this book twenty years ago, I would have prophesied a future for nut culture in the north, full of wonder, hope and profit.  If I had written it ten years ago, I should have filled it with discouragement and disillusion.  Now, after growing such trees for more than 30 years, I realize that the truth lies somewhere between these extremes, but nearer the first.

It is seldom practical to move native trees very far from their natural range, nor is it necessary to do so in this part of the north:  We have four fine, native nut trees:  the hazel, the butternut, the black walnut and the hickory.  In my experience, these four have completely demonstrated their practical worth.

If commercialization is the primary hope of the nut tree planter, he should first consider the large, hardy hybrids, known as hazilberts, which I have produced between a large Wisconsin wild hazel and European filberts.  Hazilberts equal the best European filberts in every way, without the latter’s disadvantage of susceptibility to hazel blight and its lack of hardiness.  They are as hardy as the common wild hazel and are more adaptable to environment and soil conditions than any other native nut tree.  They may be trained into trees or allowed to grow as large bushes.  Like all other filberts and hazels, they, too, need companion plants for cross pollinization to obtain full crops of nuts.

The butternut is also a very adaptable tree.  No one who is acquainted with it, questions the quality of the butternut kernel.  In a good variety, the nuts should crack out in halves and the kernels drop out readily.

So many good varieties of black walnuts are being propagated, I need not say much about them, except that many of the best ones are not practical for this climate.  Nurserymen who grow them can give the best advice about varieties to anyone selecting black walnuts for orchard planting.

Hickories are the last of these native trees to be recommended from a commercial standpoint, as they are the most particular about soil and climate.  However, with improved propagation methods and planting technique they should become some day as valuable as pecan plantations have become valuable to the south.

Considering the nut tree as a dooryard tree, an ornament rather than a business, makes it possible to include many more species as suitable for growing in the north.  For this purpose, I suggest heartnuts, chestnuts, pecans and hiccans.  The heartnut tree is always one to draw attention and interest, picturesque in its leaves, blossoms and clusters of nuts.