Walnut Growing in France. 331 



when the age of the tree is considered. The variety called "Mayette" originated 

 many years ago and trees more than one hundred years old are in evidence every- 

 where. 



None of these bearing trees are raised directly from the seed as the California 

 soft shell variety is, but instead, are grafted when the trees are about six 

 years old. The nursery stock is, of course, raised from the matured nut, the 

 same as with us. The grafts are put in high from the ground, say six to eight 

 feet, and the trees, therefore, branch out high, the first limbs on a twenty-five 

 year old tree being from ten to thirty feet from the ground, in marked contrast 

 to the low branching trees of Southern California. 



The walnut trees as a general thing, are planted in hedge-rows, and scat- 

 tered through the fields where other crops are raised, but there are some orchards 

 planted in rows and taking up the whole ground, like ours. The fact that the 

 trees are grafted high and branch out so far from the ground gives the grower 

 a chance to use the ground for other purposes, while with us it would be 

 absolutely impossible. Through this country large crops of maize, small grain 

 and other products are raised in the walnut orchards, while in many cases the 

 trees are planted scatteringly through large vineyards. There is not the sys- 

 tematic and regular planting that is done in California, but gradually the section 

 suitable for growing these walnuts of superior quality is being extended and 

 filled, so that the output is increasing yearly, as they have been found to be 

 one of the most profitable crops that this country produces. 



EUROPEAN P.\TIENCE. 



As showing the patience of our European friends, let me tell you that a tree 

 is not expected to bear any nuts, even in a small way, before it is twenty years 

 old, so that the old adage, "Plant an orange orchard for your children and a 

 walnut orchard for your grandchildren," is applicable in this country. What 

 would our friends in California think of planting a tree from which they expected 

 no results for at least twenty years? 



The favorite variety in this section is the "Mayette," a nut slightly larger 

 than the Santa Barbara soft-shell, and of such shape that each nut will sit 

 up on end. The nuts are well filled even under adverse circumstances and 

 conditions and the meat is always white. Tliis is a peculiarity of this variety 

 that commends it to buyers. The nuts of this year's crop seem to be of about 

 one size and the growers tell me that they will have no No. 2s whatever, 

 further stating that this is the usual result for this variety in this territory. 



There are two other varieties that are fast coming into favor, i. e., the 

 Franquette, and the Parisienne. These two altogether are about one-half the 

 crop, and are slightly larger than the Mayette, but both are quite different in 

 shape from the latter, being larger and round on both ends instead of slightly 

 flattened as is the Mayette. 



Individual growers produce but very small quantities, as separate lioldings 

 will average only a few trees eacli, and the people are naturally lacking in that 

 spirit which supplies a country with the necessary macliinery for any kind 

 of agriculture, so that artificial drying appliances are extremely scarce, though 

 very necessary. 



The pest most common here is a worm, which attacks the nut when the 

 shell just commences to harden, and usually succeeds in getting in before the 

 hardening process is completed. The wormy nuts are easily told by the liole ' 

 in the end, and also by the fact that they are very light. They usually drop 

 before the good nuts commence to drop heavily. Most of them are used for oil 

 making. 



The three varieties named Mayette, Franquette, and Parisienne, all grow in 

 the valley or low foot-hill lands, so that in this respect the walnut orchards of 

 France are similar to those of California. 



An average crop for this section is 2,000 tons, or 200 cars of ten tons each, 

 fully one-half of which are Mayettes. These, when shipped alone or unmixed 



