118 Lessons in Fruit Growing. 



169. Propagation. Most American orcliards of the 

 English walnut consist of seedling trees. The largest, 

 thinnest-shelled nuts, from trees that combine hardiness 

 and productiveness, and that start growth late in spring, 

 should be chosen for planting. These may be stratified 

 over winter in moist sand, and as they germinate in spring, 

 the sprouted nuts may be planted on deep, rich, well- 

 drained soil, 1 foot apart in rows 4 feet apart, and covered 

 about 2 inches with fine soil, well firmed about the seed. 

 The seedlings should grow sufficiently for budding the 

 first season, but if to be planted in the orchard without 

 budding, they are commonly left in the nursery 2 or 3 

 years. The trees may be budded by either the shield or 

 ring method. Cleft grafting has also been successfully 

 practiced. 



1^0. Orchard culture and pruning:. The trees are 

 planted about 40 feet apart each way. Clean culture is ad- 

 vised for the first few years, though, if well fertilized, the 

 ground may be used for low-growing hoed crops or for 

 the smaller and shorter-lived fruit trees. 



California growers prune off only those limbs that would 

 interfere with cultivation. Wounds should be waxed to 

 keep water from the pith. 



1^1. Harvesting, curing and marketing. In some local- 

 ities, the ripe hulls open on the trees, permitting the nuts 

 to fall. In this case, the ground beneath the trees is cleared 

 of leaves, and the fallen nuts are gathered once or twice a 

 week and taken to the drying-house. Young trees are 

 jarred to promote the dropping of the nuts. Beating the 

 trees with poles is not advised. Where the hull does not 

 open, the nuts are left on the ground until the hull be- 

 comes brown, when it is removed by hand or by light 

 pounding. Shells discolored by the hulls are washed. 



