430 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



cent, although some of the nearby trees were blighted as high as 60 per 

 cent or 70 per cent. 



Another seedling grove in Orange County, which was counted in the 

 same way, averaged 47 per cent blighted nuts during the second week in 

 June. In making this determination 105 trees were counted. In this 

 same grove, there were, however, at least three trees which averaged 

 I'^ss than 6 per cent blighted nuts. 



It is interesting to know that the Placentia variety, growing within 

 a stone's throw of the aforementioned seedling grove and under iden- 

 tical cultural conditions, was blighted to the extent of 71.9 per cent on 

 the same date. 



Observations of the Prolific (Ware's) in the vicinity of the above 

 mentioned grove, show less than 1 per cent blighted nuts on the trees, 

 and practically none of the nuts have dropped to the ground at the 

 present time. The original Chase tree was observed during this time 

 and showed a percentage of 37 per cent blight. These examples are 

 given, not in support of any particular variety or to discredit others, 

 but simply to call attention to the wide variation, and this variation is 

 a great source of encouragement in our endeavors to produce a disease 

 immune variety. 



Of course blight immunity is not the only factor to be considered in 

 selecting a variety of Avalnut. A profitable yield of good commercial 

 nuts is the real test of the superiority of any variety. A very heavy 

 yielding tree with a small amount of blight may prove more profitable 

 than a light yielding variety which is totally immune to this disease. 



The production of a medium grade nut, which would grade only as a 

 seedling No. 1, might prove more profitable — if the tree is at least 

 partially blight immune — than the production of such a high grade nut 

 as the Placentia, with its susceptibility to blight. These things must be 

 considered and weighed carefully by the growers who are planting 

 walnuts in the blight sections. The various areas where walnut blight 

 is not a factor might profitably sacrifice heavy production to superior 

 quality. 



The commercial nut growers can be of great assistance to the Experi- 

 ment Station staff in calling their attention from time to time to speci- 

 men trees which are thought to be superior in any way. Correspondence 

 in this regard should be directed to the writer. 



