316 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 







also abroad, to bleach the nuts by means of sulphur. This practice, 

 while whitening the shell, causes the quality of the nuts to deterior- 

 ate. 



Varieties. The question of variety is one every grower must 

 solve. Time alone win settle the supremacy of any variety or vari- 

 eties over others; but it is only reasonable to suppose that the wal- 

 nut, like the apple, will demonstrate that each variety is adapted to 

 certain conditions, and fills a valuable place either commercially or 

 as a home nut. Already certain characteristics are being associated 

 with each variety thus, the Proepurturien bears while very young 

 and the nut is of fine quality, being an excellent home nut. The 

 Chaberte seems adapted to high altitudes and poor soils, and the 

 kernels separate easily. The Franquette is noted for its good size and 

 prolificness ; the Mayette, for extra good quality ; and so on down the 

 list. 



Marketing. The walnut is generally marketed in sacks. These 

 hold from one hundred to one hundred twenty pounds. The more 

 progressive growers screen the nuts, assorting the different sizes, as 

 the prices range more or less according to size. The Chaberte nuts, 

 however, and some soft shelled types, cannot be sacked, as the shell 

 is too thin to warrant rough handling. These nuts are crated. With 

 the reputation established in the packing of fruit, there is a standard, 

 in a way, to follow in handling the walnut. In other words, there 

 will probably be a market for the better grade of nut handled in 

 attractive packages. As the tendency is for small gift packages of 

 fruit, so it will be with the walnut, and attractive packing and pack- 

 ages will undoubtedly bring splendid returns. In the countries 

 where the walnuts are being grown in large quantities, quite a num- 

 ber are being picked green for picklings and catsup manufacturing. 



Some persons have shown more or less alarm in regard to the 

 walnut market, claiming that it would be very easy to overstock it. 

 Now nuts are becoming more and more a staple of diet with the 

 American people, due to several reasons increase in wealth, and the 

 scarcity and increase in price of meat. In California the production 

 is increasing but slowly less than four thousand tons in nine years ; 

 and it has been estimated that if it should double that amount in the 

 next ten years, or, say, if the increase should be a thousand pounds a 

 year for the next twenty years, that would mean only forty million 

 pounds, or less than one-half pound for every person in the United 

 States. This means that the population of the country is increasing 

 more rapidly than the combined ratio of imported and native nuts. 

 At the lowest figures an orchard in full bearing would yield good 

 profits, considering the amount of labor necessary, as at least six hun- 

 dred pounds of nuts could be expected from an acre. It has been 

 estimated in California that a yield of three hundred pounds an acre 

 would be profitable. (Ore. E. S. B. 92.) 



ADDITIONAL REFERENCES. 



Factors That Make Up a Good Fruit Growing Section. Colo. 

 E. S. B. 2; Calif. E. S. R. 1892-3. 



Cultivation and Cover Crops. la. E. S. B. 44 ; Cornell E. S. B. 



