Hazels do not come true to parent variety from seed, and consequently valuable stock is propagated by budding, by grafting or by layering.

Personally, I find that the hazel is rather easily budded, although layering is the method for propagation of choice varieties most often employed in Europe.  The hazels have comparatively few insect enemies, but mine are sometimes attacked destructively by the elm beetle and by the larvae of two species of saw flies which are also found upon the elms.  It is a rather curious fact that the insects should recognize a similarity between the leaves of the hazels and of the elms, which are somewhat alike in general appearance, although the trees are of widely different descent.

It brings up an interesting question, if the flying parents of the parasites from the elm are attracted by the appearance of the hazel leaves, or if they are attracted by the odor or other characteristics.  Occasionally the exotic hazels are attacked by various leaf blights but not to any troublesome extent so far as my experience goes, up to the present time.  The chief predatory elements which we shall have to meet when raising hazels are squirrels, white-footed mice and the neighbors’ children.

W. C. REED:  May I ask, Doctor, what you bud the Byzantine on?

DR. MORRIS:  I am budding other things on those for stocks.  I bud our American hazels and European hazels on the European and Asiatic trees.

MR. RUSH:  Do you know anything of the quality of that nut?

DR. MORRIS:  It is the chief hazel in parts of northern Turkey, and of excellent quality.  Hazels form a source of income for some localities like the wheat or corn in other parts of the world, or the olive, as Dr. Smith told us last night.

MR. HOLDEN:  Do they get these trees from seedlings?

DR. MORRIS:  Yes, so far as I know.  The nuts are called
Constantinople nuts.

A MEMBER:  What kind is it that blooms in the fall?

DR. MORRIS:  I don’t know any but the witch hazel which blooms in the fall; has a small yellow flower, but is not a true hazel.  Catkins form upon all hazels in the fall, but these do not really blossom until springtime.

A MEMBER:  I would like to ask if the Byzantine hazel is
attacked by blight as are the others?

DR. MORRIS:  No; none of my trees have been attacked by blight at all as yet.

W. C. REED:  What method of budding do you find most successful?

DR. MORRIS:  I have usually used the ring budding.  It is not very difficult.

PROFESSOR HEDRICK:  Are there any East Asia hazels that thrive in this country?

DR. MORRIS:  There are specimens in the park here at Rochester that you will see this afternoon.

PROFESSOR HEDRICK:  Our experience with Asiatic hazels is very satisfactory.

MR. MCGLENNON:  A friend of mine here has some specimens that he would like to present.