BEECHNUTS Never before, so far as the writer is aware, has there been a score card proposed for beechnuts, but the need of one is apparent and the following is suggested till a better one is found. It is not doubted that one will appear, for our present score cards for hickories, walnuts, etc., are the result of changes made as nuts received in the contests have shown such to be advisable, and work on the beechnut is 10 years or so behind that on other nuts. Size is the most important characteristic in the beechnut, for all are thin shelled and practically all are well flavored. If we had a beechnut the size of a chestnut we should have a most valuable addition to our nuts. The points awarded for size have therefore been on the basis that eventually we would get a beechnut the size of a chestnut, although we are very far from that now. Forty points are allowed for size and it is figured that eventually we will get a beechnut 4 grams in weight which is the weight of a medium size chestnut. The constants used in figuring the number to be awarded for other characteristics require little comment for they are figured on the basis of existing nuts as constants have hitherto been calculated. The suggested score card is as follows: Weight 40 points Color of shell 5 points Percent of kernel 15 points Ease of removing pellicle 15 points Quality and flavor of kernel 25 points Total 100 points The details and methods used in judging beechnuts this year, also the calculations of the constants and the details of the awards, will be typed for the report. The prizes awarded were as follows: Mrs. John M. Pepaw, Johnson, Vt. grandiflora 40 1 $10.00 Mrs. George Marshey, Johnson Vt. grandiflora 39 2 5.00 James Radle, Harbor Springs, Mich. grandiflora 38 3 3.00 Anthony Andreson, Burke, N. Y. grandiflora 35 4 3.00 Fagus sylvatica sylvatica 44 [A] ----- Fagus sylvatica purpurea sylvatica 41 [A] ----- ______ $21.00 [A] Not entered in the contest It is not believed that nuts of Fagus sylvatica (European beech) will test out better, generally, than nuts of Fagus grandiflora (American beech) but the beechnuts were not tested till late, and the European beechnuts had been kept in a refrigerator, while the American beechnuts had not, which very likely may have been the cause for better retaining both the flavor and pellicle-removing quality, which made these nuts receive more points for these characteristics and so be awarded more points than the first four.