ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information on the uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecology, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of Chinese Hairy Chestnut. Nut unexcelled in sweetness and general palatability by any other known chestnut. Most of grafted Chinese chestnuts have shown troublesome stock-scion incompatibility, which causes grafts to fail. Chinese chestnut requires much the same conditions of climate, soil, and soil moisture as does peach. Air-drainage must be good, and frost pockets must be avoided. Chestnuts should be harvested daily as soon as burs open and nuts fall to ground. Chestnuts in sound condition may be stored in cold storage with temperature just above freezing; this is the simplest method. Quentin Jones et al. report that in commercial and home plantings of Chinese chestnut in 6 southeastern and eastern states, 23 of the trees had main stem cankers incited by Endothia parasitica.
