,B40I Tea. i^eto gorfe S»tate College of ^gritulturc ^t Cornell Mnibeviit^ Hifirarp The Walnut yi FROM A TO Z Including a Chapter on the PECAN Price: Twenty-five Cents By TRIBBLE BROS. ELK GROVE Proprietors of Tribble Nursery Co. CALIFORNIA Anderson Print. acramento Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924002916850 To the Public Our object in writing this pamphlet is to answer the many ques- tions arising in the minds of those interested in "Nut Culture." Here- tofore we have answered these personally by letter. The work has assumed such magnitude that during the season of 1911-12 we answered over 5000 letters in 200 days — an average of 25 letters per day — at the cost of over $100 for stamps alone. Our information has been gathered from years of patient work, nights and days of study, days of hard work in the nursery and with the trees, as well as in many orchards. Many dollars have been spent for literature and horticultural papers treating upon this subject. We feel this book will save many from the missteps of the amateur, which are costly and often mean failure. VISITORS. We invite the public to visit us at all times and talk over any part of this subject. During 1911 we were visited by 567 visitors from all parts of the United States and a few from foreign countries. An accurate statement of facts, however circumscribed, has more of value in it than volumes of suppositions and gauzy-threaded theories. Glittering adjacetives and highly polished phraseology bear no kinship whatever to practical "shirt-sleeve" nut culture. — Kerr. PREMIUMS AWARDED AT THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR, 1911. First prize on tliree best varieties of Walnuts. First prize on best variety of Pecans. First prize on best variety of Chestnuts. First prize on best three varieties Table Grapes. Gold Medal on best display Wine Grapes. Silver Medal on best display Cultivated Nuts. The Spread of the Walnut Industry IN the southern part of the State the walnut orchards have proven to be good citrus territory, and in the southwest coast counties the lemon and Valencia orange are yearly crowding out hundreds of acres of walnuts. All through this territory the large trees are being cut down to give way to the citrus industry. The main cause for this is the deterioration and partial failure to produce satisfactory returns of a large acreage of seedling walnuts, due partially to blight, but much more to the poor quality of these seedling trees, in which there is no fixed type. This has caused tihe spread to all parts of the State where the winters are not too severe. The spread during the last few years has reached to all the coast counties, all of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys and many foothill sections'. This spread to these sections has been caused by poor results from orchards and vineyards, and the demand for SQm.ething to take place of these to produce remunerative crops. This is especially so of the vineyard. Varieties of the walnut have been found that are particularly adapted for each particular district, so the business is no longer in its experimental state. No other crops have held prices to a certain standard as with the walnut. There was imported during 1910 33,641,466 pounds of walnuts from various countries, amounting to $3,538,264, the largest amount that had been imported in any previous year by over 1,000,000 pounds. The English or Persian walnut crop of the United States for this year was a little more than half this amount, California producing 19,660,000 pounds. THE VALUE OF WALNUT ORCHARD. As an average assessment on walnut orchards in bearing is approximately $450 per acre, or 60 per cent of its real value, the price would average $750 per acre, the usual price being from $1000 per acre and upward. WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THE WALNUT. The essential qualities are grouped into production, quality and period of ripening. The ideal or perfect nut for any locality is the one which combines high grade of production and quality and matures its nuts at the proper season. The production is influenced by the natural tendency to form fruit buds, vigor of growth, relative period of bloom and immunity to disease, blight, sunburn, frost or perforation. There must be plenty of staminate blossoms or catkins, as well as the nut or pistillate flowers, and these two forms must bloom near together. Blight immunity is required and a very important consideration, especially in the coast counties where foggy or moist weather prevails till late in the spring. Immunity to sunburn, from heavy foliage is required, especially in the interior valley. Frost is anotlier important subject to be considered, varieties late in budding out being required where late spring frosts may occur. A late tree is desirable, both from blight and frost, the blight being a bacterial disease, fed by excessive mioisture conditions. A variety must not be too late in maturing its crop where It may catch the early rains and discolor the nuts. High quality is desired in the walnut as in any other fruits, the ideal being moderately, but not excessively large. Extremely large walnuts have only a limited market. There is no specified shape to the ideal walnut, but it should be symmetrical and attractive to the eye. The surface should be nearly smooth in preference to being rough. Extreme thininess in the shell is undesirable, as the nuts can not be handled in shipping. It should crack with moderate pressure and stand ordinary handling, and must be well sealed to keep the kernel from becoming rancid by exposure to the air. Many good nuts are deficient in this quality. Walnuts should be of sufficient attractive color to make bleaching unnecessary, unless stained by moisture. The meat should be full and plump, filling the shell nearly or quite full, and should come out intact from the halves of the shell without difficulty. In the best meated walnuts the meat exceeds the shell in weight. Some good nuts fall a little short of this, but no nut should be considered in which the meat weighs less than 45 per cent of the total weight. PRODUCTION. Grafted walnuts will begin to produce nuts from the time of planting, but will make better growth and larger crops a few years later if the walnuts are all kept off for the first three years. Early bearing has a tendency to dwarf the tree. A walnut orchard that has been well cared for and planted to the proper varieties should produce paying crops after the fifth year, and should increase in production, for many years. One of the oldest orchards in the State being one of the largest producers per acre, shows that with proper care and fertilization we find the walnut a very long lived tree. The average production of Los Angeles, "Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, taking all the trees in bearing from four years old upward, gives an average of 810 pounds per acre, at $12.55 per hundred pounds, an average for ten years would be $101.65, and the cost of pruning, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, fertilizing and marketing at $50 per acre, leaves a net return to the grower of $51.65 I)er acre. The cost of caring for an acre is probably given too high, and the returns are based on seedling orchards. Many orchards in their prime are yielding 2000 pounds per acre, and the net returns have e'xceeded $300 per acre. A notable example of a young walnut orchard in the north part of the State is the Vrooman Franquette orchard. Planted in 1897; 1899 it died back to the ground. 1900 first year's growth. 1901 produced 90 pounds nuts. 1902 produced 900 pounds nuts; sold at 25 cents per pound. 1903 produced 1,800 pounds nuts; sold at 25 cents per pound. 1904 produced 5,000 pounds nuts; sold at 25 cents per pound. 1905 produced 12,000 pounds nuts; sold at 25 cents per pound. 1906 produced 20,000 pounds nuts; sold at 25 cents per pound. —3- 1907 produced 30,000 pounds nuts; sold at 25 cents per pound. 1908 piroduced 40,000 pounds nuts; sold at 18 cents per pound. 1909 produced 46,000 pounds nuts; sold at 18 cents per pound. 1910 produced 36,000 pounds nuts; sold at 18 cents per pound. 1911 produced 48,000 pounds nuts; sold at 18 cents per pound. Paid 10 per cent interest ou $1200 net per acre. Net profit, over $100 per acre. Cost of planting, $3.50 per acre. Cost to gather crop 1911, $567 and sacks. No bleach necesisary. $140 walnut meats sold beside the nuts. First eight years 800 trees. Last four years 1000 trees. COST OF PLANTING. Walnut trees are planted on an average of 50 by 50 feet, or 17 trees per acre. The standard tree, 4 to 6 feet high costs about $1 each per 100 trees. The best trees can be had at this price, with the exception of scarce and new varieties. The cost of planting these trees would be about $5 per acre. In many localities it can be done for half this, or even less, as this figure includes dynamiting the holes. This is less than any other fruit orchard can be planted, as the figures given here will show. Standard pears planted 20 by 20 feet, 108 trees to the acre, 4 to 6-foot trees, at $30 per 100, $32.40 for trees alone. Cherries, plums and prunes, 4 to 6-foot trees, 20 by 20 feet, 108 trees per acre, at $25 per 100, $27 per acre, trees alone. Peaches, 20 by 20 feet, 108 per acre, price 4 to 6-foot trees, $18 per 100 trees, $19.44 per acre, trees only. It requires six and one-third times the number of holes for 108 trees per acre than for 17 trees per acre. The walnut orchard is the only orchard, except pecan, that can be interplanted with a profitable crop without interfering with the growth of the tree. PLANTING. In planting walnuts, only the very best and most vigorous trees should be used. These should be grafted on 1 and 2 year roots. Grafts or scions must be as carefully considered as the root for the best success. "The best is none too good." In the beginning a walnut orchard must have varieties suited to the conditions where it is to be planted. This is true of all fruits. Good soils underlaid with hardpan to the very best, deep, richest soils are adapted to the walnut. With hardpan soils dynanaite should be used to break the hardpan in each hole. This should be done when the soil is driest, as it breaks the soil into small particles, as well as breaking more space, while if the soil is blown up wet it packs and sticks together. Plant the trees the same depth that they stood in the nursery, making allowance for settling of the earth. Don't put manure around the roots or in the hole. Lean the tree slightly to the prevailing wind, especially if the winds are strong and constant. Press the soil firmly around the roots, and plant in December or January if possible:, to allow the winter rains to settle the earth around the roots. If the soil is inclined to be dry, settle it by pouring several gallons of water around the tree. Holes should be dug deeper than the length of the root, and fill in with good earth for the base of the root to rest on. Holes should be dug about 24 inches in diameter. ROOTS OR STOCKS. After trying all varieties of the walnut for root we find there is only one that can be considered. This is the California black walnut or Juglans Californica. The seed must be selected from very vigorous, rapid growing trees that are known to produce the same in its seed- lings. The influence of the root must be considered carefully, as well as the top of the grafted tree. It has been said the English or Persian walnut root is adapted to some soils. Even so, if the California black walnut thrives on soils not adapted to the English walnut root, it is evidence that it is better adapted to the soils where the English walnut thrives than the English itself. Hybrid stocks have been considered and boomed by many propa- gators, but the freezing of many of these hybrid seedlings in the nursery rows, where the California black was untouched during the early freeze in November, 1911, is evidence that they are not to be considered. It is true that some hybrids are exceptionally rapid growers. We find in our visits to nurseries where these hybrids are grown, the average growth is not over 24 inches the first season from the seed. Some were several feet high, and many not over 6 inches high. There is no uniformity in size. California black growing in the same nurseries averaged 3% feet. The Eastern black walnut grows tco slow, ajid continues gTowth so late it catches the frost on the grafts. This is not so in its native countries, where it is undoubt- edly the only stock to be considered. "Don't worry about the tap root. If the tree needs a higher system of lateral roots it will make them, and if it needs a tap root it can make it. If people would think less about form of roots and more about getting soil and moisture right the trees would do better." — Professor Wickson. A walnut tree can be transplanted successfully at twice the age of deciduous fruit trees. PRUNING. The less pruning the better. Prune only with a view to properly shape the tree and admit convenient cultivation. Tie up low hanging limbs to proper shape if practicable. Don't allow suckers to grow on the trunks of young trees. Remove with a sharp knife as soon as they appear. Train while young, as in removing large limbs from old trees the cut decays before it is healed over, even if treated with paint, etc. When the trees are about six years eld, heavy foliaged varietiesi may need some of the inner limbs removed to admit light. Trees produce best nuts when they have plenty of light and air. HARVESTING. Harvesting begins in September and lasts about two' months, and consists of picking the nuts up by hand — the nuts that fall natural- ly or are dislodged by shaking the limbs v/ith a rubber covered hook attached to a long pole. They are dried a few days and then bleached with salt water charged with electricity, then again dried, graded and sacked in lOO-pounds sacks, and are ready for storage or the market. The cost of picking, drying, sacking, insurance and commission on sales averages abont 2 cents per pound. The average selling price for the past eleven years has been 12% cents per pound for No. 1 —5— and 3 cents less for No. 2 seedlings. For grafted and budded varieties about 4 cents more per pound tlian for No. 1 seedlings. Only 20 per cent or less grade No. 2 if given proper cultivation and attention. GRAFTED TREES, BLACK WALNUT SEED AND SEEDLINGS. Black walnut trees planted in tlie nursery row can be handled to force tbelr growth, and trees can be selected for uniformity to get the best to be had, while planting the nuts in orchard form, the growth can not be forced, and the trees will not be uniform no matter how cared for or planted. Professor Wickson says: "We co'unt the planting of the nut in place no compensating advantage. We would buy grafted trees of the desired sorts the same as we would any other kind of fruit." It has been argued that the tap root of a walnut must be planted entire or else grown from the nut where the tree is to stand. There is absolutely no merit in this whatever, as has been proved over and over. The same thing was advanced many years ago when fruit growing was in its infancy as to the prune, apricot, peach and other trees. The black walnut is as easily transplanted as any of the decidu- ous trees, and does as well transplanted. In planting the black walnut in orchard form the following must be considered: These can not be successfully grafted till they are from three to five years in the orchard, and are seldom grafted under four years of age. With the success of the ordinary expert walnut grafters a stand of 75 per cent will be had. This leaves 25 per cent to regraft the following year, making one year's difference in the age of the tops, and there is reasonable assurance that a full stand may not be had in this season, etc. Carelessness in cultivating the trees will knock out some of the rapid growing grafts, and the wind usually breaks out a certain percentage. Furthermore, trees planted and grafted by this method are usually ill-formed and are not uniform. Grafted trees of the proper variety begin to bear a paying crop at five years of age, if cared for properly, from time of planting, while the trees grafted in the orchard will have a one or two-year head or top at the same age, and three years more must elapse before the crop will pay. Two walnut orchards planted near Stockton are good illustrations of the difference in grafted nursery trees and orchard grafted trees. These were planted at the same time. The Holden Drug Co. planted grafted trees. Fitzgerald planted the black walnut, and the trees were very carefully selected. The first mentioned is a beautiful orchard of symmetrical and uniform shape, bearing nuts, while the latter, grafted at four years of age, are not uniform, large bunches on some of the trees where stock and graft unite, growth soi rapid that the tops break off, many knocked out by cultivation and wind, limbs split down and some were so misshapen the owner regrafted them. This is only one of several instances. ENGLISH SEEDLINGS. Only the uninformed are planting seedling walnut orchards. No two seedling walnut trees are alike, and not one in five hundred come true to name. — G— Walnut branch, showing- both staminate or male ratkins and pistillate or female flowers in full bloom, having appeared nearly together. The male org-ans or catkins emanate from the bud-cells in the axils of the leaves on twigs of the preceding" summer, and the females at the terminals of new growth, with the embryo nuts. Very essential to produce a full crop of nuts. —7— Mr. Luther Burbank, when addressing the Fruit Growers' conven- tion at Santa Rosa, Cal., was asked: "Do^ English walnuts come true to seed?" "Never," was his reply. Many of the seedling walnut orchards of the southern part of the State, some thirty-five years old, have been and are being grafted over to nuts true to one type, heavy bearing and immune to blight. The cause of so lO'W an average production to the acre in the walnut district of Southern California is due to seedling English walnuts. It is an old established fact, proven by years of practice, that all scions and buds transplanted on wild or other cultivated stock does not change the fruit In quality, shape, season of ripening, suscepti- bility to blight, etc. CULTURE. The walnut orchard must have a plentiful supply of water in order to be productive, and must be supplied with enough to keep the soil moist and in good growing condition throughout the entire season. Cultivation must be given to retain moisture and allow air to penetrate the soil. Cultivate to the depth of five or six inches. The annual cost, including pruning, cultivation and plowing, will not exceed $10 per acre. STAKING THE TREE. Trees should be supported by stakes for the first two years, tying up the drooping branches to proper shape. FERTILIZING. Barnyard manure is the best fertilizer for the walnut. Cover crops for green manure, to supply humus, assist in the growth of the trees and their productiveness. Where commercial fertilizer is needed it should be rich in phosphoric acid. INTER-PLANTING. For the first seven or eight years after planting the walnut orchard, crops can be successfully grown between the tree rows. Leave a space of six or eight feet on each side of the trees. Don't allow the ground to bake. In the springtime follow every rain with thorough cultivation. Supply enough moisture at all times to insure •enough for your trees and inter-planted crop. Fruit trees and small fruits adapted to the locality are probably best to plant between walnut trees. Vegetables of all kinds, peanuts, melons, etc., can be planted with a profit, and without interfering with the trees. Grain and other crops that are not subject to thorough cultivation should not be grown. It is not advisable to plant alfalfa in the walnut ■orchard, owing to the excessive irrigation. Trees grow very slowly planted with alfalfa, and it is nearly impossible to get all the nuts from the ground owing to their being hidden in the growth of alfalfa. Furthermore, water should not be allowed to come in contact with the tree above the ground unless cultivation is done as soon as the surface is dry enough. Planting walnut trees in alfalfa that has been planted some time is very difficult to get them to take hold. In this proposition it would be best to plow lands six or eight feet Jn width for the tree rows and keep them cultivated. NOTES. It is not necessary to have three or four feet of black walnut trunk for a grafted tree. By shading the grafted tree the first season as good results are to be had as to have the black walnut trunk. GRAFTING. The grafting of the walnut is accomplished by any of the known methods of grafting. The skill of the grafter is of more importance than the method employed. The main point is to match the cambium or sap layers perfectly and wax over with grafting wax, which must be of special kind to assure success. In old trees the cleft graft is usually employed. Some use a saw to cut the stock, and using the knife to cut out a place for the scion, which is cut in shape of a wedge, with two buds above the wedge. Others split directly through the center of the stock and at the side. Either is equally successful. In the nursery the whip or tongue graft is usually employed. The time to graft is in March. Walnut budding is not as successful as grafting, and is done during the late fall months. The common method of budding deciduous fruits is as successful as any other method. The ring and patch methods are often used, but we have as good success with the first method, and it is a much quicker method. Walnut Varieties Bijou. — Nuts very large; sweet meat; rapid grower; productive; Leaves out April 8. Butternut. — Nuts large; fine flavored, plump meat. The white walnut of the Eastern states. Calavette. — Smooth shelled Bijou. Description the same; bears more. Originated by E. M. Price. April 8. Chaberte. — Nut medium; round, oval, well filled; fine flavor and productive. April 8. Chase. — Medium to large; well filled; meat white; Placentia type. A new variety from Southern California. March 10. Concord. — Medium; productive; kernels good, but often very dark. April 1. Cut-Leaf. — The most graceful of walnut trees; particularly adapted to lawns and yards; nuts medium to large; well filled; kernel sweet and best quality; tree very hardy and rapid grower. April 10. Eureka. — Nuts large; kernel white; fills the shell; extra quality; regarded as one of the best. Tree very vigorous and rapid grower. Adapted to all parts of the State. March 27. Franquette.— Medium to large; kernel full, white and very fine; shell white and of very attractive form; tree very productive. One of the best known French walnuts. —9— FRANQUETTE EUREKA .J MAYQUETTE PARISIENNE ^'«--^,>^ '•smsr^ MAYETTE CHASE Types of Nuts Grown from Our Trees —10— Manchuria or Chinese.— This is the nut imported from China, and is gathered from the wild trees of the mountains, and will, no doubt, stand more cold than most varieties; nuts medium; kernel good" well filled. April 20. Mayette (Grenoble).— This is the famous nut of France, where it is more extensively grown than any other variety, and commands the highest price as a strictly fancy nut. More productive than the Franquette; also larger and ripens earlier. Combining all the quali- ties—white shell, white kernel, perfectly filled shell, productiveness, weight of kernel in proportion to shell, best flavor and rapid growth, we have not seen its equal except in the Parisienne. This particular type was imported from France by the late Mr. G. H. Kerr of this place. This nut was awarded third place in three best varieties at the California State Fair, 1911, and was preceded in choice by the Mayquette and Parisienne. These three were awarded first prize. April 24. IVIayquette. — One of our own productions; a hybrid or cross of the Mayette and Franquette, hence its name. Larger than either of its parents, with the good qualities of both. Nuts are perfecly filled with white, sweet kernels. We have fruited this three seasons, and it bears heavy, and blooms heavy the first year in the nursery rows the season they are grafted. This nut was first choice at the Cali- fornia State Fair (1911), and was followed by the Parisienne and Mayette. This nut was sent to the National Niit Growers' conven- tion at Tampa, Fla., in 1910, where it attracted much favorable com- ment. April 15. Meylan. — One of the most beautiful of the French walnuts; large, smooth shell, perfectly filled with white meat; heavy bearer; best quality, and will undoubtedly be one of the most extensively planted varieties when better known. April 18. Neff's Seedling. — Originated by Mr. J. B. Neff, an extensive walnut grower of Southern California. Very rapid grower; spreading habit; bloom.s late; nuts large, oval and slightly ribbed; immune to blight. April 1. Peanut Walnut — A unique Eastern black walnut in which the kernel is extracted in one piece. The nut is medium size of the Eastern black. To those that prefer the black walnut to the English, this is an ideal nut. Parisienne. — The best and most prolific of all French walnuts. Has all the good qualities of the Franquette and Mayette, and is a heavier bearer, producing heavy crops every year. The nuts are uniform in size — more so than any other variety; large, well filled; sweet kernel; nutty, rich flavor; very similar to the Mayette in form. This is the true Parisienne, and was introduced from Troyes, France, by the late Mr. G. H. Kerr. Second choice at the California State Fair (1911). April 20. San Jose Mayette. — Nut large, very pretty and attractive; shy bearer with us; fills poorly and is poorly sealed. April 12. Santa Rosa. — Always produces a heavy crop. Nuts large, smooth and good. Does exceptionally well grafted on black walnut in the interior valleys. A grafted tree of this variety near San Jose produced 712 pounds in one season. — n— Wilson's Wonder. — We give the originator's description: "Strong grower; nuts abnormally large; thin, smooth shell, well filled with a sweet, rich kernel; bears young and in large clusters." The tree has a tendency to dwarf with us, and some of the nuts do not fill well. Paradox. — A very rapid grower, useful for shade, timber or for grafting on the California black to induce greater growth to the root, which it does, making a more rapid growing tree than can be re- worked to the English. Produces fine, light grained timber. A beau- tiful shade tree of upright and spreading habit. Hybrid of the English and California black. Seiboldina. — A Japanese walnut of rapid growth; foliage large, leathery and gives a tropical effect to a lawn or yard. Nuts produced in large clusters; kernel is extracted whole, and is good, sweet and nutty. A beautiful shade tree. Cordiformis. — A Japanese walnut very similar to the above, except the nuts are heart shaped; the kernel is extracted whole; a fine nut; heavy bearer. Cluster-Fruited. — A type of the common English walnut bearing its walnuts in clusters. Ford's Improved. — Nuts smooth, moderately thin shell; kernel white, full and plump. Glady. — One of the largest nuts; bears in large clusters and one of the most productive nuts grown; nut slightly rough, attractive and particularly fine. Grows at Seattle, Wash., with success. Grupe. — Nut very large; shell white and attractive; meat fills shell entirely full; very white; very productive and of best quality. Named from party who called our attention to it. Hubbard. — The size of a very large pecan, which it resembles in form; white meat; plump kernel and very prolific. iVladiera. — The common English or Kazaki walnut. Usually proves unproductive owing to its earliness. Monstreuse. — A rough-shelled seedling of no special value. Payne. — Nut, large, well filled; meat white and delicious; more meat to weight of shell than any other variety, and wonderfully pro- lific. Origin, George C. Payne, San Jose. Payou. — Seedling of the above and the Bijou. This is the largest nut grown. Origin same as above. Placentia. — The nut of Southern California. Very susceptible to blight; a fine seedling nut. Pomeroy. — A fine nut grown at Rockport, N. Y. Good size and fine flavor; said to be prolific. Praeparturein. — A lata blooming sort; nuts medium to large; bears good crops, but of no special market value except for confec- tioners. Rush. — Originated in Pennsylvania. Medium to large nut, well filled and. good; meat white and bears well; stands low temperature. St. Johns (Serotina). — Small to medium; shell quite hard; of no special value. —12— Santa Barbara. — Large; thin shell; kernels white and sweet. Smiths. — Medium size; white kernel; good flavor; shell quite thick; hears well. Origin, E. M. Price. Stocktonian. — Nut said to be large and symmetrical; well filled and prolific. Origin, B. M. Price. Vourey. — Small, round; thin shell; sweet and nutty. Zante. — Large nut; rough shell; meat fine; very productive. The Pecan Mr. H. C. Van Deman, the largest pecan grower in the world, and said to be the best expert on this nut, while attending the California Fruit Grower's Convention at Stockton, December, 1910, was asked his opinion as the adaptability of the pecan in California, and said: "As to the pecan in California, I fully believe it can be grown on your rich soils. The samples shown me that were gathered from trees here in your city this morning prove positively that it will grow and mature in your State, which is one of the very essential points. The large nuts with thin shells and plump meats which part freely from the shell are the kinds that should be grown only. The only way to go about this intelligently and successfully is to get grafted trees of the well known choice varieties." Question: "Then your advice is to try the pecan?" Reply: "Yes." Mr. McKevitt, President of the California Fruit Distributors' As- sociation, said: "Mr. Chairman, I want to say the pecan is now growing in Cali- fornia in many localities. I have seen as fine trees at Chico, Vaca- ville and Visalia as any one would wish to see. We are not growing a great many grafted varieties as yet. Some have been grafted of late years, and we can and are going to produce just as good a pecan in this State asi elsewhere. I think this State is better adapted for the growth of the pecan than any other part of the United States. I am informed that the trees at Chico, which are perhaps as old as any in the State, never miss a crop, while in the Southern States they have their off years and frequently miss a crop, and owing to our better climatic conditions in California, I fully believe the crop can better be depended on than anywhere else. I believe there is the greatest future for the pecan in this State, and so far we have paid practically no attention to it." Mr. Rixford then said: "There are fourteen acres in one tract near Stockdale, Kem County. They are all seedlings, but never fail to produce abundantly. There are also some fine trees at Knights Valley." In addition to the trees mentioned the author has seen many seedling trees in other parts of the State which produce abundantly, and some seedlings that have merit. Some trees at Stockton and Farmington, in San Joaquin County, produce from 250 to' 300 pounds every year, and the nuts are sold at 15 cents per {)Ound. The nuts —13— >>/ 4 "^, MANTURA \ FROTSCHER SUCCESS SCHLEY Z / .^-fc".*; DELMAS Types of Nuts Grown from Our Trees —14-- are quite small and of no particular merit. The papershell varieties referred to by Mr. Van Deman sell at wholesale for from 40 cents to $1.25 per pound, and the demand exceeds the supply many times. These nuts are usually engaged ahead of the crop. The usual price for the wild nuts of the Southern States range from, 10 to 35 cents per pound at wholesale. So uncommon are the fancy varieties of the pecan that a large percentage of people, while visiting the Cali- fornia State Fair (1911) had never seen anything like them, and many did not know what sort of nuts they were, as all the common pecans are polished and unlike the fancy varieties. The attem.pt to transplant Southern grown trees to California soils has not met with success. The California nurserymen are now using the seed of the California grown pecan as a stock to graft on the scions of the best varieties of the Southern States, and the plant- ing is as successful as the planting of any deciduous tree. The following varieties are now in bearing in several parts of the State, and are the most promising: Delmas. — One of the largest; well filled; shell thin; kernel plump; quality good to very good; flavor excellent; tree vigorous and pro- ductive. Frotscher. — Large; shell very thin; kernel plump; quality good; flavor medium. A popular variety. Mantura. — Size medium to large; shell thin; very productive. Grows farther north than any other thin shelled variety. Moneymaker. — Medium; kernel plump; quality good; flavor sweet. Very prolific and bears young. Pabst. — Large; shell fairly thin; kernel full; quality good; flavor sweet. Very productive. Schley. — Medium to large; pointed; shell very thin; kernel plump; quality very rich; flavor excellent. A regular bearer. Stuart. — Medium to large. More extensively planted than any other variety. Shell averages thinness; kernel plump; quality very good; flavor rich. Very productive. Success. — Large to very large; shell just right; kernel very plump; quality very rich; flavor unexcelled. Awarded first prize at Cali- fornia State Fair, 1911. Van Deman. — Very large; shell medium; quality and flavor fine. Very productive. Some nuts do not fill. Pecan culture isi identical with that of the walnut. The tree is very beautiful and makes an upright growth. It is admirably adapted to the planting of lawns and yards as a shade tree, besides producing the finest nuts grown. Price of this book refunded with your First Order of Walnut or Pecan Trees -15— We Solicit Your Patronage BECAUSE— We use every scientific method known in propagating our trees. By selecting seed from the most vigorous, rapid growing California black walnut trees we can find. By using every method known to induce growth to get vigorous trees. By this method we get larger trees on one year old roots than most nurseries do on two year old roots, making them grow to their utmost from the planting of the seed till ready to mature for the trade. A runt or stunted tree will not make a good tree. By selecting with care, for vigorous growth, productiveness, quality of nut produced, proper blooming of male and female flowers for pollination, each bud and graft in our nurseries. By doing our budding and grafting, selection of scions, selection of walnuts for stock personally, and doing all the work ourselves, not depending on hired assistance. By having hundreds of thousands of scions or grafts to choose from, fruiting each variety to prove its merits and to prove it true to name before offering it to the public. By studying this subject all the time, readingi everything obtain- able on the subject, keeping posted in every part of the work, experi- menting, keeping data on everything pertaining to stocks, varieties, growth, blooming, leafing out, pollination, prices, production and all matters pertaining to the industry. By having the unsolicited commendation of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, Professor B. J. Wickson and other professors of horticiilture at the California Experiment Station, Berkeley, National Nut Growers' Association and the horticultural press of the Pacific Coast. Each season many kinds of walnuts are sent to us to determine the variety and value. Also we receive many letters of inquiry, which are promptly answered, and we take pleasure in answering these. Kindly enclose postage with, any inquiry, as postage alone on inquiries last season cost us over $100. Send for our Price List on Walnuts and Pecans. We grow other nursery stock, and will be pleased to quote prices. We have the largest, latest and most prolific capri figs, colonized by the Insect. Figs for sale in season. -16— SB 401.182™*" """''^'*y ^'"'''y 3 1924 002 916 850