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iDd. 

 Laiubrr 4 c'ual i^o., Valpa- 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



DrcFiubrr 26, 1015 



M. A. Ilosworth. Vlnrvnnr*. 

 McIlvalDf^ Lunibpr Cu., VlnrrDnM. 

 SlinpMon Lumbrr Co., V1dc4*ddc«. 

 Vlncrnnwi l.unibrr Y»r<l, VlDc«nD»«. 



Wnll. r'. .t Trl^Ilij;. r WsknrUM. 



VlDcrnu- 



Smith llubl»rd Lumber Co., \\»- J" -». 



bi>h. II I 



Yarnrll I.umbrr A Coal Co., Wr I. 1 i... i.< r i .. . WliUlni;. 



banh. W.MMiiiurii l.uiiibrr i"o,. Woodburo. 



inriftinJ 



Walnut Supply for the Future 





The annual consumption of Circasainn walnut in the United 

 - r is been placed at l.T'H.TSO feet. Most of this is converted 



r anil it makes quite a respectable showing in the furni- 

 ture. iUtiTior finish and musii-jil instruinont industries. The supply 

 comes almost wholly from old orchards in the northeastern part 

 of Asiatic Turkey, and is genornlly understood to bo quite limited. 

 Supposing that four trees are required to make 1,000 feet, the total 

 yearly demand is 7,000 trees. 



At the present time there are 1,720,683 Circassian walnut trees 

 growing in the United States — practically one tree for every foot 

 of this wood now used yearly in the country. These are planted 

 trees, and they commonly pass by the name English walnut, but 

 they are the same spicies as the genuine Circassian which produces 

 the wood of commerce (Juglaus regia). The trees are planted for 

 their nuts, and with no present purpose of utilizing the trunks for 

 lumber. The trees of Turkey which now furnish the Circassian 

 wood were likewise planted for their nuts, and after bearing for 

 a century or more, are cut anil shipped to markets of the world. 



The walnut trees of this species which are being planted in the 

 United States may never possess great value as timber. That ques- 

 tion must bo determined by the future. The trunks may never 

 develop the fine figures and colors so valued in the wood grown on 

 its native soil. The trees have been growing in Europe during two 

 thousand years, where they are known as English, French, Italian, 

 and Austrian walnut, depending upon the country where they hap- 

 pen to grow. The wood of the European-grown walnut trees is 

 valuable, but it has never quite come up to the native stock. 



It remains to be seen whether it will do better in America. If 

 climatic conditions count for anything, there should be regions of 

 the United States where this walnut will produce wood equal to 

 that on the mountains of Turkey. It has a wide range here, through 

 planting. Thirty-five states now have Circassian walnut trees old 

 enough to bear nuts. Some are in New England, some in Florida, 

 and they are found westward to the Pacific ocean. It thus is shown 

 that practically the whole area of the United States is suitable for 

 growing Circassian walnut trees. There are 16,867 farms con- 

 taining orchards of these trees in bearing, and many other orchards 

 are not yet in bearing. California is far ahead of any other state. 

 It has 853,237 bearing trees. Next after California in number is 

 Texas which is followed by Oregon. 



The nut crop is the main incentive to planting the Circassian 

 walnut. Returns from these planted trees may be expected in a 

 few years, while the cutting of the trunks for lumber will not 

 materialize for a long time. Nevertheless, the time will come when 

 old trees will no longer be profitable as nut bearers, and th.it will 

 be the time when they will possess most value to the lumberman. 

 California alone now annually produces more than 21,000,000 pounds 

 of Circassian walnuts, called English walnuts, and some of the 

 trees have been in bearing many years. Fifteen years ago the 

 production exceeded 10,000,000 pounds. 



The tree is hardy and it flourishes in almost any situation where 

 conditions are not positively adverse. It has already escaped from 

 cultivation, and though it cannot yet be classed as a forest tree, it 

 may become one in course of time. It grows as rapidly as the black 

 walnut. The young tree bears more resemblance to the smooth-bark 

 hickories than to- black walnut. No trees in this country are yet 

 old enough to show what the appearance of a veteran American- 

 grown Circassian walnut will be. There is no report of the wood 

 of the home-grown trees in this country. There has not yet been 

 time for the rich colorings which age only can produce. 



The planting of black walnut trees falls somewhat below the 

 Circassian. This number now growing in the United State*, m 

 shown by reports, totals 1,060,000 trees, and of this 786,210 arc 

 alreoily in hearing, and the nut crop is worth $244,470. It nhould 

 be borne in mind that these black walnuts have been planted for 

 their nuts and are listed os agricultural crops. Walnut trees in 

 woodlots are not included, and they would doubli'ns add large 

 numbers to the figure given above. The black walnut in the open, 

 as an orchard tree, has a short trunk; yet it will ultimately produce 

 one or more short logs which should furnish choice wood after age 

 has perfected the figure and the coloring. 



Planted black walnut orchards flourish in all parts of the United 

 States. They are reported in every state except Utah, and are 

 found on 54,837 farms. Iowa leads all other states in black walnut 

 orchards, and is followed in the order named by Kansas, Missouri, 

 Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Numbers of such orchards are found 

 in states west oi the Rocky mountains, wholly outside the natural 

 range of this tree. The annual production of black walnuts from 

 planted trees is given at 15,628,776 pounds, about three-fourths of 

 the quantity credited to Circassian or English walnut. 



Walnut Prices Normal 



Some of the leading walnut lumbermen are calling attention to the 

 fact that consumers who have the impression that the use of walnut 

 for war purposes has necessarily forced up the price of walnut lumber 

 are mistaken in this view, and that as a matter of fact practically 

 all items on the list are selling at normal prices. 



' ' The supply of walnut lumber on hand is probably as large as at 

 any time in recent years," said one authority, "and owing to the 

 fact that the demand for walnut timber for use in making gunstocks 

 has brought an immense amount of raw material on the market — 

 much of which has not been used for any special work, but simply 

 to make walnut lumber — the supply, comparatively speaking, has been 

 well maintained. There is no shortage of lumber, and consequently 

 no abnormal increase in prices, and any consumer can purchase lum- 

 ber at a satisfactory figure." 



The American Walnut Association, composed of the leading pro- 

 ducers of walnut lumber and veneers, has been advised that the num- 

 ber and scope of walnut furniture displays at the shows next month 

 will show a good increase over last July. Retail furniture dealers are 

 taking hold of the situation with enthusiasm, and a window display 

 contest, in which $100 in prizes has just been awarded, attracted 

 entries from all over the country. 



Pennsylvania Industrial Statistics 



The recently issued annual report of I'ennsylvania 's Secretary of 

 Internal Affairs gives the following statistics concerning employment 

 in that state: 



Foresters, all men, 137. 



Lumbermen, raftsmen, and woodchoppers, male, 8,236; female, 3. 

 (The report fails to show whether these three representatives of the 

 "deadlier" of the species are lumberwomen, raftswomen or wood- 

 chopperesses. ) 



Owners and managers of log and timber camps, all men, 658. 



Cabinet makers, all men, 3,165. 



Laborers, lumber and furniture industries, male, 10,328 ; female, 151. 



Sawyers, all men, 2,741. 



Semi-skilled operatives not otherwise specified, lumber and furni- 

 ture industries, male, 8,641 ; female, 1,463. 



Upholsterers, male, 2,234; female, 210. 



