137 



The principal improved varieties of black walnut which are being 

 used at this Station are as follows: Stabler, Ohio, Thomas and Ten 

 Eyck. 



(Note by tlie editor. — The cleft graft described by Prof. Talbert 

 lias been superseded in the East by otlier methods, cliiefly tlie bark 

 and the modified cleft grafts). 



CARE AND PREPARATION OE NUTS FOR SEED PURPOSES 

 By Prof. E. R. Lake, U. S. Deportment of Agrictiltiire 



A nut is a seed, and a seed, normally, is an embryo plant asleep. 

 To keep a nut-seed asleep and safely resting against tlie favorable 

 time when it may awake, arise and go forth, as a vigorous seedling 

 bent upon a career of earth conquest, requires no great or unusual at- 

 tention and cire save that whicli is necessary to maintain such condi- 

 tions as will insui'e the complete maturing, ripening and curing of the 

 seed, its protection against tlie ravages of rodents or other nut-eating 

 animals, undue moisture and an unfavorably high temperature. In 

 other words harvest the nuts as soon after they are mature as is pos- 

 sible, insure their- complete curing, store them where they will be ke])t 

 constantly so cool tlirst germination cannot take place, (and some nuts, 

 as the black walnut and butternut, may germinate at a temperature 

 just above zero (centigrade( ?) Ed.) and keep them moist enough to 

 prevent undue hardening of the tissues or enclosing structures (shell), 

 at tlie same time prevent tliem from becoming saturated with moisture 

 and thus rotting. Summarized, these conditions are: (a) a temper- 

 ature jnst too low for vegetative activity, (b) A moisture content of 

 the nut just below turgidity. (c) An immunity against ants, rats, mice 

 and squirrels. 



Curing. A man-devised method for hastening the ripening of a 

 matured seed or fruit, is usually carried on in a more or less enclosed 

 space where the moisture and temperature conditions are kept care- 

 fully regulated, or in a place where the seeds are kept away from 

 direct contact with sunlight and the earth. Ordinarily, the nuts are 

 placed in trays 2" to 3" deep, 2' to 2^' wide and 5' to 6' long. The 

 bottom tray is then placed upon a pair of sawhorses or other device, 

 in a shady place and 2' to 21' above the ground; then the other trays 

 are placed on and above the first one until all the nuts are in the tier 

 of trays, or until it is 2' to 3' tall. Sometimes a current of heated, 



