BULLETIN 231] WALNUT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 191 



Figures 22 and 71 illustrate walnut trees which never have been 

 pruned at all, the branches coming down upon the ground, which is 

 the natural tendency of the tree. This practice is not without its 

 advantages, although it is doubtful whether the latter are sufficiently 

 great to warrant its general adoption. The walnut, like the lemon 

 and orange and some other trees, seems to have a tendency to produce 

 its fruit with particular abundance on branches close to the ground. 

 It is certainly true that such branches are very prolific and produce 

 more fruit proportionately than those higher up in the tree. For this 

 reason some growers consider that the interference with cultivation by 

 these low branches is more than counterbalanced by the increased crop 

 obtained. This is largely a matter of personal preference, but in 

 most orchards a higher-headed tree is to be preferred. In the young 

 tree shown in Fig. 71 the object of the owner is to allow the trees to 

 take this form during their early life in order to obtain quick returns, 

 while as they grow older and higher it is his intention to gradually 

 prune them up. Some growers may find it profitable to follow this 

 method. 



Another matter which may be discussed under the subject of prun- 

 ing is that of the breaking off of large limbs of walnut trees, which 

 frequently happens especially in the northern part of the State. The 

 large lateral branches which develop from the main stems have a con- 

 siderable tendency to form a very poor union in the angle of the 

 crotch between the branch and the stem and many large limbs break 

 off at this point. Trouble of this sort is much more common in the 

 northern part of the State, possibly on account of the fact that the 

 growing season is shorter and that during the rapid growth of the 

 branches the crotch joints do not have time to properly unite. Where 

 such large limbs break off nothing can be done but to make as clean 

 a cut as possible at the point of breaking, and cover tfre wound with 

 paint or grafting wax. One observation upon this subject is of value, 

 namely, that in the walnut there are usually at least two buds, one above 

 the other, at each axil, and of these the upper bud is the one which 

 normally grows out, forming these branches which break off so readily. 

 It has, therefore, been suggested that in localities where there is much 

 trouble of this sort the upper bud at each axil where a limb is to be 

 produced be cut off and the second bud forced into growth, with the 

 idea that this lower bud will form a branch having a better union. 

 There appears to be considerable value in this idea. 



