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suit of our endeavors to crack the nuts and the tedious work of manip- 

 ulating a darning needle to extract the kernels, which we usually picked 

 to pieces in the process. We now know that we simply did not have 

 the right kind of black walnuts. We should put our accumulated 

 knowledge to practical use to urge on every occasion the planting of 

 nut orchards, especially of approved varieties of the black walnut. 

 This I understand is what the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture is advocating, and we should co-operate all we can with the de- 

 partment in that recommendation. 



It will, no doubt, be urged that sufficient grafted black walnut 

 trees are not available for orchard planting on a large scale. This, 

 no doubt, is true, but on many farms there are wild black walnut 

 trees of a size suitable for grafting or top-working. Grafting wood 

 may be obtained in larger quantities than the grafted trees. Those of 

 our members skilled in the art have not been selfish in imparting 

 their knowledge to others and are always ready and willing to instruct 

 others in the art. Most owners of these trees would only be too glad 

 to substitute profitable tops for their trees in lieu of their unprofitable 

 ones. 



I believe tliat at all our meetings we should have practical demon- 

 strations in budding and grafting, as this will tend to arouse the 

 interest of the uninitiated and will spur the initiated to greater per- 

 fection. 



During the past year there has been a discussion relative to the 

 calling of the black walnut by some other name. Personally I be- 

 lieve we should not attempt the change. The public will not under- 

 stand and it will take them a long time to become educated to the 

 change. Valuable time will be consumed in picking out a new name. 

 Let us take the name as we find it. Properly handled, after the 

 husks are removed, the walnuts will not be as black as they are 

 painted, and besides, we do not eat the shell anyhow. The quality 

 of the kernel will make its appeal. The trouble with all of ns has been 

 that too much attention has been given to the looks, rather than the 

 quality, of our food stuffs. Quality has been sacrificed for looks. 

 Various illustrations of this come to mind with all of us. 



I believe success will attend the planting of black walnut orchards. 

 This will encourage others to follow with orchards of other nut-bear- 

 ing trees. Orchards of all kinds of fruit trees are being planted 

 each year and the planters are content to wait until the trees are 



