Butler — A Filbert Pollinizer

Abstract

Butler is being introduced as a pollinizer for Barcelona and Ennis. It will replace Daviana, which is now the principal pollinizer grown in the Pacific Northwest. A new pollinizer has been sought for over 30 years be cause Daviana has several serious faults; it is highly susceptible to the big bud mite, Phytocoptella avellanaeNewkirk and Kiefer, causing a serious reduction in nut yield; it has a thin shell which make the nuts especially attractive to birds and rodents and causes further reductions in yield; and it has a long shape that is undesirable to the trade. Since the inshell trade utilizes a round nut, Daviana nuts must be screened out and cracked for kernel use. Butler does not overcome all of the disadvantages of Daviana, but it does represent a considerable improvement.