BULLETIN 231] WALNUT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 389 



to disappearance. But it is found here and there in the department 

 of Isere. 



This nut is large or very large, round, flattened at the base, slightly 

 pointed at the apex. The shell, of a clear color, is soft and nearly 

 smooth. The large, delicate kernel fills the cavity well. The dimen- 

 sions are as follows : length 38 mm., width 36 mm. 



The Meylan blossoms late and, for this reason, it escapes nearly all 

 the spring frosts ; its crop is a little more sure, especially in a year not 

 wholly favorable for the production of the walnut. The tree is vig- 

 orous and very spreading. For purchase when mature, this variety 

 is not as popular as the Mayette, which is ideal for dessert. It sells 

 for a little less, but the tree being less delicate and less exacting as 

 regards climate and fertility of the soil, the Meylan will give very 

 good results in a place not suited to the Mayette. 



Gautheronne. The Gautheronne is little known. However, the trees, 

 are scattered here and there in the canton of Tullins, (Isere). It has 

 very much the shape of the Chaberte, but it is larger and its shell is 

 smoother and the color clearer. It measures 40 mm. in length and 

 32 mm. in width. It is sold in the shell for dessert. 



Chaberte. This gets its name from Chaberte, its originator and pro- 

 pagator; it has been cultivated for a hundred and fifty years around 

 the environs of the department of Isere. It is a nut small or of aver- 

 age size, a little elongated, slightly pointed, having a hard, wrinkled 

 shell of dark color and very full; its kernel is delicate. The average 

 dimensions of the nut are, length 35 mm., width 30 mm. The nut, 

 dry, weighs about 9 grammes and the weight of a hectolitre (2.85 

 bushels) varies from 36 to 40 kilos (79 to 88 pounds). 



The Chaberte blossoms late, almost as late as the Saint-Jean, which 

 it replaces advantageously. The tree, vigorous and productive, yields 

 regular crops. It is cultivated in Isere, within the plateau of Bizoir 

 from Voiron to Lyons. It is found in all the districts except those of 

 Saint-Marcellin. It is also cultivated in Savois, in the Drome and in 

 a few departments in central France. 



It is utilized for the manufacture of oil; and especially since the 

 fresh kernels demand a high price, they crack the nuts and pack the 

 kernels in cases which are exported to America. According to M. 

 Rouault, Departmental Professor of Agriculture of Isere, the yield of 

 oil is 64 per cent or 12 litres (10.8 quarts) of oil to 20 kilograms (44 

 pounds) of kernels, but in practice they count on one litre of oil to 

 2 kilograms of kernels. The Chaberte (oil) pays at most from 26 to 

 32 francs ($5.20 to $6.40) a hectolitre (26^ gallons), a price which is 

 rarely exceeded; in ordinary years it varies from 15 to 28 francs per 

 100 kilos ($3 to $5.60 per 220 pounds). 



