THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 505 



THE FUTURE OF THE WALNUT INDUSTRY. 



By J. B. Neff, Anaheim, Cal. 



The early plantings of walnut trees were altogether of seedlings, first 

 hardshells and then softshells, and the orchards were usually left with- 

 out much care, the owners being content to take whatever crop was pro- 

 duced and market it at the nearest town for any price that was offered. 

 Then came the planting of commercial orchards, when more care was 

 given to the selection of land suitable for the growth of the trees. 



Selection of trees was not definitely undertaken and seedlings were 

 still planted, but of the softshell variety. The methods of marketing 

 were improved to some extent by the organization of associations for 

 the purpose of preparing the walnuts and collecting them into large 

 lots, so that better prices could be obtained. Grades according to size 

 were established, but were not uniform throughout all the associations, 

 as at present ; neither was there a uniform method of bleaching as there 

 is now. 



Improved methods of managing walnut orchards are gradually coming 

 into use, though but little, comparatively speaking, has been done in the 

 scientific selection of varieties best suited to certain localities, or in the 

 investigation of diseases with a view to their prevention. 



However, the small amount of work which has been done is returning 

 large amounts on the investment and will be an incentive to still further 

 research and experimentation. Planters are now asking for grafted or 

 budded trees of known varieties, and marketing methods have taken a 

 long step forward. The University of California has lately undertaken 

 investigations bearing the same relation to the walnut industry that the 

 Experiment Station work has borne to the citrus industry. This 

 promises to be a permanent undertaking and should produce valuable 

 results, though investigations of this character are necessarily slow in 

 results, since a walnut tree must be under observation for at least fifteen 

 years in order to determine its commercial value. 



The industry is, however, making substantial progress, and the 

 progress Avill be much more rapid in the succeeding years, as the newer 

 varieties become better kno^Mi and marketing methods become better 

 developed, so as to reach a larger part of those who would be glad to eat 

 California walnuts. When we remember that a crop of California wal- 

 nuts, amounting to 15,000 tons — which is more than we have produced — 

 will furnish but one-third of a pound, or only about thirteen walnuts to 

 each person in the United States, we can readily see that there is but 

 small likelihood of overproduction, if we will use diligence in distribu- 

 tion and care in preparing the walnuts for market. 



