BULLETIN 231] WALNUT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 199 



The term "Paper Shell" also denotes a certain, quite characteristic 

 type of tree rather than referring to any or all nuts with unusually thin 

 shells. The Paper Shell of southern California originated almost or 

 quite entirely among the earlier trees propagated by Joseph Sexton of 

 Goleta. These trees are of quite distinctive character, being of small 

 size as compared to soft shells or even hard shells of the same age, with 

 a slender, white barked trunk, rather large leaves, compact top, and a 

 small, round, more or less thin-shelled nut. Some typical Paper Shell 

 trees, however, bear nuts which are not especially thin-shelled and all 

 degrees of gradation may be found between paper shell, soft shell, and 

 hard shell trees. The typical Paper Shell is quite similar to the French 

 variety Chaberte in many ways. Most paper shell trees are particularly 

 susceptible to walnut blight and the variety has nothing whatever to 

 recommend it. 



SELLING. 



The walnut growers of southern California are quite generally united 

 into cooperative associations, each with its own packing-house and 

 officers. The members of each association carry their nuts to their 

 packing-house, where they are handled and sold by cooperative methods. 

 In addition to these various local associations the whole industry is 

 organized rather loosely into one general organization for certain lines 

 of business. The directors of the local associations hold a combined meet- 

 ing at least once a year and keep up a general organization, having a 

 president and the other usual officers, including a paid secretary. 

 Matters of general interest come before this larger meeting, including 

 the purchase of sacks for each season, and particularly the fixing of 

 prices for each year's crop. At a meeting held each year early in 

 the fall, reports and estimates are submitted as to the probable crop 

 of the season and minimum prices are fixed for nuts of the various 

 grades for that year. The actual selling is then done through out- 

 side brokers who receive a commission for their services. This method 

 of selling is not altogether satisfactory with many growers at present, 

 and the suggestion is frequently made that the general association 

 employ its own agents in the various trade centers all over the country 

 to sell the crop along the lines practiced by the California Fruit 

 Growers' Exchange, which handles the bulk of the citrus crop.* Grow- 

 ers who are not affiliated with any association usually sell their nuts 

 directly to brokers or commission men and commonly receive associa- 

 tion prices for the same. A few growers, especially in the northern 

 part of the State, whose orchards are composed of grafted trees of 

 the better varieties, have a special trade of their own and receive from 

 20 to 100 per cent more for their nuts than the ordinary prices. The 



* Since the above was written an incorporated central association has been formed 

 along these lines. 



