DR. ZIMMERMAN: I noticed one chestnut that was toppling over and the leaves were withering. The rats had taken it off just below the ground. I couldn't find a root anywhere, but it was callused. I cut it back and planted it again. It must have roots now for it is still green. Otherwise it wouldn't live this long. THE PRESIDENT: Your experiments are of very great interest. If you are successful you will deserve the gratitude of this and future generations. MR. HARRINGTON: Do you remember when we were down at the Riehl nursery that we ran into a chestnut that produces 7 to 9 in a burr? THE PRESIDENT: I remember one tree that had a great many nuts. MR. HARRINGTON: I had one with 7 nuts and they said there were some with 9. Was that the one named Gibbons? DR. COLBY: That has three nuts to the burr. DR. DEMING: Dr. Colby, there have been two instances of blight infection in Illinois. Could you tell us how the eradication was done? DR. COLBY: In each case the tree was burned and the disease entirely eradicated by fire on the spot. THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Colby has a paper from Mr. Littlepage on the plant patent law. "PLANT PATENT ACT" _By Thomas P. Littlepage, District of Columbia Bar, Washington, D. C._ The plant patent act is an effort by Congress, as stated in the Committee reports on this bill, "to afford agriculture, so far as practicable, the same opportunity to participate in the benefits of the patent system as has been given industry, and thus assist in placing agriculture on a basis of economic equality with industry." The act is rather short and is set forth below: [PUBLIC--NO. 245--71ST CONGRESS] [S. 4015] An Act To provide for plant patents. _Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled._ That sections 4884 and 4886 of the Revised Statutes, as amended. (U. S. C., title 35, secs. 40 and 31), are amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4884. Every patent shall contain a short title or description of the invention or discovery, correctly indicating its nature and design, and a grant to the patentee, his heirs or assigns, for the term of seventeen years, of the exclusive right to make, use, and vend the invention or discovery (including in the case of a plant patent the exclusive right to asexually reproduce the plant) throughout the United States and the Territories thereof, referring to the specification for the particulars thereof. A copy of the specification and drawings shall be annexed to the patent and be a part thereof.