MacDaniels Nut Grove, Cornell University

MacDaniels Nut Grove
Research projects
Cultivar evaluation, shade-tolerant fruit culture, and more.

Nut Grove Home

Map showing research and demonstration at the MacDaniels Nut Grove. Larger image.

Projects in our growing research and demonstration programs include:

Nut cultivar evaluation and germplasm collection

The MacDaniels Nut Grove features a unique and rare assemblage of mature hickory (Carya) and walnut (Juglans) species and cultivars. Many of these heirloom varieties are no longer readily available. Some may prove to be valuable reintroductions or breeding stock. In 2003 we received a two-year grant from the Northern Nut Growers Association to pursue the following objectives related to the original hickory collection at the MacDaniels Nut Grove:

Photographic records created as part of the nut quality evaluation. Larger image.

Evaluation of existing cultivars for nut quality, hardiness, and other growth and performance characteristics.
Make hickory accessions at the MNG available to other nut tree growers by providing scion wood from selected trees.
Establishing promising cultivars from other North American hickory collections at the MNG site by grafting scion wood onto suitable understocks.
Develop a web-based, hickory image and text database of the cultivars we are evaluating at the MNG and other cultivars available nationally. Visit the database. Click on an accession in the drop-down box to view pictures and data.

Small Fruit Culture

Growing shade tolerant small trees and shrubs in the mid-story helps make efficient use of resources in an agroforestry system. Harvesting and marketing fruits from the understory can also improve income from woodlots. We are evaluating five fruit species under three different shade levels:

Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.)
Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia)
Red currant (Ribes sativum)
Honeyberry (Lonicera kamchatka)