124 A TREATISE ON NUT CULTURE. 



I would get at it as soon as possible and set out one hundred and sixty acres or 

 more where land is comparatively cheap. I would then have no fear of frost, 

 but while other people were smudging their Grape vines, Prune trees, etc., in 

 the cold midnight air, night after night, for fear of losing their crop, I would 

 quietly lie in 'my warm bed and " smile at Satan's rage," owing to the fact that 

 my late variety of Walnut trees were entirely safe. 



EXPERIENCE IN SONOMA COUNTY. I have just received a letter from 

 J. H. Hornbeck, of Santa Rosa, in which he gives the following interesting 

 account of his experience: 



I send to-day a tin box with nine of my Santa Rosa Soft-shelled Walnuts. 

 They are not as large as former crops, nor so fair in color are not sulphured. 

 I never sulphur anything. The frosts last Spring killed them nearly all I only 

 got two pounds from the five bearing trees. In 1895 they had about ten pounds 

 to the tree ; in 1894 about thirty pounds each. They were planted in 1885, 

 yearling seedlings, from six inches to one foot high ; have had nuts on six 

 seasons, and now girt at six inches above ground twenty and one-haJf, twenty- 

 six and one-half, twenty-six and one-half, twenty-two, twenty-seven and one- 

 half inches, respectively. Mr. Burbank propagated them. They are in adobe 

 soil, have had no extra care, and are but little trouble to take care of. I am in 

 favor of high branching ; do not want the first limbs of Walnut lower than 

 seven feet. I- branched my first ones about three feet high, but I think it 

 wrong. My younger ones I will let branch higher. I have one hundred and 

 thirty-four trees, but mostly planted the last three years. I recommend planters 

 to fill any vacant space with Walnuts, and there seems to be quite a demand 

 for trees. It is my opinion that the Walnut is the best tree to work with in 

 this locality. 



On reading Mr. Hornbeck 's letter I was very forcibly struck with its con- 

 tents, especially as to the damage to his Walnut trees by frost last season, etc. 

 The more I think of it the more I see the propriety of planting a late variety of 

 nuts. What we want is a variety that will be loaded with fruit when our prune 

 crop is partially if not wholly ruined by frost. I think, as I saigl above, I have 

 one Walnut tree that did not burst its buds in the least until June 2d, but am 

 not sure, as I lost my memoranda. I shall know for certain the coming season. 



I believe Mr. H. is right in branching his trees high. Mine are none less 

 than six feet, and some eight feet or more. Still, I have had to lop off some of 

 the limbs that otherwise would, when loaded with nuts, touch the ground. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT. I have written somewhat at length in this 

 article, as I consider it of great importance to any one who expects to set out a Wal- 

 nut orchard to be very careful to secure a very late variety, and thus escape heavy 

 losses in future years from the icy king. If I had planted this or some other 

 late variety of tree when I set out my Prune orchard, I might the past season 

 have had a large and valuable amount of nuts to offset my total loss of prunes. 

 Allow me to say, in conclusion, that I have been a resident of this State nearly 

 forty-five years, and now, in my sixty-fourth year, I feel it my duty to call the 



