INTRODUCTION. 9 



is to remain or not is uncertain, but it is quite evident 

 that it has had very little effect in stimulating the culti- 

 vation of this nut except in circumscribed localities on 

 the Pacific coast. 



Of filberts and walnuts, not shelled, and with a 

 duty of two cents per pound, we imported during the 

 same years from eleven to fifteen million pounds annu- 

 ally, or a total for the four years of 54,526,181 pounds, 

 and in addition about two million pounds of the shelled 

 kernels, on which the duty was six cents (now four) per 

 pound. The total value of these importations amounted 

 to $3,176,085.34. 



I do not find the European chestnut mentioned in 

 any list of imports, although an immense quantity must 

 be received from France, Italy and Spain every year, 

 and they are probably imported under the head of mis- 

 cellaneous nuts, not specially provided for, and upon 

 which the duty was two cents per pound in 1890-'91, 

 but was later reduced to one and a half cents. 



Under the head "miscellaneous nuts," or all other 

 shelled and unshelled "not specially provided for," there 

 was imported during the period named 6,442,908 pounds, 

 valued at $235,976.05. The total for all kinds of edible 

 nuts imported was $7,124,575.82. These figures are 

 sufficient to prove that we are neglecting an opportunity 

 to largely engage in and extend a most important and 

 profitable industry. It is true that in the Southern 

 States considerable attention has been given, of late, to 

 the preservation of the old pecan nut trees and the plant- 

 ing of young stock, but it will be many years before the 

 increase from this source can overtake the ever-increas- 

 ing demand for this delicious native nut. Californians 

 are also making an effort to raise several foreign varie- 

 ties of edible nuts on a somewhat extensive scale, but 

 all these widely scattered experiments are mere drops in 

 the ocean of our wants. Under such conditions I ask, 



