CHAPTER XXXIX 



THE ENGLISH WALNUT 



Although we have in California a grand native walnut tree, as 

 noted in Chapter IV, the nut to which reference is made when the 

 term "walnut" is used is the English walnut or Madeira nut both 

 of which are old trade names for the Persian walnut (Juglans 

 regia). Our native walnut in its species and as influenced by en- 

 vironment,* ranges from a tree of great size and beauty to a shrub. 

 The species found in the valleys of Central and Northern California 

 is a majestic tree widely grown from the nuts for shade and orna- 

 ment, from early pioneer days to the present and therefore now 

 widely distributed and admired. Its greatest economic service is, 

 however, the contribution of its nuts for seedlings which are largely 

 depended upon as stocks for grafted trees, as will be stated later. 



The Walnut Product. The English walnut was introduced to 

 California during the Mission period, the first being probably grown 

 by the Mission Fathers from nuts brought from Spain. Away from 

 the Missions there were also old trees in Southern California at the 

 time of the American occupation. English walnuts were also planted 

 both in Southern and Central California by the American pioneers, 

 but for decades there was no notable commercial production. Very 

 large trees planted in the pioneer period are still to be seen here and 

 there in both coast and interior situations.f 



The California product of walnuts during the last decade has 

 been as follows, in tons of 2,000 Ibs. : 



1910 . 9,600 1916 . 14,600 



1911 12,500 1917 16,500 



1912 11,250 1918 19,962 



1913 11,750 1919 28,100 



1914 8,000 1920 21,500 



1915 14,895 



The walnut product is almost exclusively grown in Orange, Los 

 Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara contiguous counties along the 

 southern coast of the State, and the headquarters of the California 

 Walnut Growers Association, a very efficient co-operative organiza- 

 tion, is in Los Angeles. The product grown outside of the area 

 indicated is relatively small but increasing, as local adaptations to 

 the tree have been demonstrated, wherever suitable soils have been 

 found and varieties meeting local requirements have been planted, 

 in all parts of the State. 



*A very interesting study of the native walnut in its various forms is given by Prof. 

 R. E. Smith in Bulletin 231 of the University of California Experiment Station, 1912 re- 

 printed in modified form in 1921. 



tMany records of early plantings are to be found in the Report of the California State 

 Board of Horticulture, 1895-6. 



