THE ENGLISH WALNUT 433 



ence in size and quality) direct from growers in the Southern States, 

 and plant as soon as received, in the early winter, or if conditions are 

 not favorable for planting, the nuts should be stored as described in 

 Chapter VIII. Nuts planted in good nursery ground in rows as there 

 suggested, and covered about two inches or a little deeper in dry, loose 

 soil, and then mulched to retain moisture, will germinate freely. The 

 trees should be transplanted to permanent place at the end of the first 

 year and then usually the tap-root can be retained, as some growers 

 deem very desirable ; if the trees are to be put in permanent place later 

 they should be transplanted in the nursery and the tap-root cut off. 

 The nuts can, of course, be planted at once in permanent place if one 

 will take the extra trouble necessary to properly care for them. 



Pecans are polished by putting them in a revolving barrel only 

 partly filled, so that as the barrel turns they fall upon and rub each 

 other producing a beautifully smooth surface. When it is desired to 

 give an artificial color, a little "Spanish brown" dry paint is put into 

 the barrel. If the natural coloring is desirable, a little sharp sand 

 put into the barrel assists in the scouring and produces the desirable 

 uniformity of color. This barrel is rigged up like a revolving churn, 

 with a side door in the staves and a gudgeon on each head which is 

 fitted into proper bearing on two posts ; proper arrangement being 

 made for a pulley or crank by which the apparatus is turned either 

 by hand or motor power. 



THE PISTACHIO 



The pistachio nut (Pistachio, vera) was introduced a number of 

 years ago but no results have been reported. The species upon its 

 own root makes a low shrub and is slow of growth. We have also 

 imported the Pistachio, terebinthus, from which is derived the "chio 

 turpentine," the stock the true pistachio is grafted upon in Europe and 

 which is growing thriftily at several points in the State. The pistachio 

 needs more time to declare its California career. 



THE ENGLISH, OR PERSIAN WALNUT 



The nut which is signified in California when the term walnut is 

 used, is the English walnut or Madeira nut (Juglans regia) and its 

 many varieties. This tree makes a grand growth in California. Speci- 

 mens are seen here and there, which, at about twenty years of age, 

 are from fifty to sixty feet in height, with a spread of branches of 

 forty to sixty feet, and in some cases bearing four to eight hundred 

 pounds of nuts. Much larger and older trees can be found in the 

 coast and interior valleys of central California where the nut was first 

 planted, although, as has already been stated, the nut has thus far 

 been produced in large quantities only in regions adjacent to the coast 

 in southern California. The equable temperature and moisture of the 

 southern coast seems to specially favor the nut, but it must not be 

 inferred that success can only be attained in such situations. A num- 

 ber of French varieties, which have been widely enough distributed to 



