54 



cal use of our accumulated knowledge. Public interest has been 

 aroused, which may become stale. Articles have appeared in maga- 

 zines and newspapers from time to time on subjects relating to nut 

 culture. We are also on a continual lookout for new varieties, and 

 those of our members skilled in the art are constantly improving and 

 working out new methods of grafting and budding, particularly as evi- 

 denced by Dr. Morris' work entitled "Nut Growing." We know ap- 

 proximately how soon a grafted nut tree, especially the black walnut, 

 will begin to bear. At Mr. Jones' Nursery, Lancaster, Pa., an Ohio 

 black walnut tree in the nursery row'bore a cluster of seven nuts 17 

 montlis after the graft was placed. Mr. J. W. Wilkinson, of Rock- 

 port, Ind.. has demionstrated tliat grafted northern pecan trees bear 

 early and abundantly for their size. 



We have given advice conservatively in reply to all inquiries rela- 

 tive to nut-bearing plants, perhaps too much so. ^luch honor and 

 credit is due to certain members of our association for their untiring 

 work and ett'orts in its behalf. It is not necessary to mention names 

 as I am sure most of you present know to whom I refer. Our annual 

 rejDorts testify to their splendid work. 



From this time forward I believe we should adopt the policy of 

 boldly advocating the planting of orchards of nut trees. The intend- 

 ing planter will decide for himself wliat variety he will plant, and as a 

 guide he sliould judge from the wild varieties growing in his vicinity. 

 By so doing he cannot go very far astray in what will be to him &• new 

 \ enture. Of course certain varieties will be restricted to certain limited 

 areas. This a})plies particularly to the introduced varieties, as dis- 

 tinguished from the native nut-bearing trees. 



The black walnut has a wider range than any of the other nut 

 trees. Travel wheresoever you will about the country and you will 

 observe wild black walnut trees growing almost on every farm. The 

 ])lanting of the Persian, or English walnut, as it is more generally 

 known, ha-s had more of a po})ular appeal, perhaps from the fact that 

 we are accustomed to seeing clean, smooth nuts of uniform size of that 

 variety in almost every grocery- store, the kernels of which may be 

 extracted without great eifort. The black walnut, on the other hand, 

 has been tolerated as a sort of poor relation, and has been given no 

 particular attention, because we have been used to seeing it around. 

 It has not been made to do its share of contributing towards its keep. 

 Our earliest recollections of it bring to mind bruised fingers as a re- 



