510 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



THE PISTACHIO 



The pistachio nut (Pistachio, vcra) was introduced a number <>] 

 years ago but no results have been reported. The species upon 

 its own root makes a low shrub and is slow of growth. We have 

 also imported the Pistachio, terebinthus, from which is derived the 

 "chio turpentine," the stock the true pistachio is grafted upon in 

 Europe and which is growing thriftily at several points in the 

 State. The pistachio needs more time to declare its California 

 career. 



THE ENGLISH OR PERSIAN WALNUT 



The nut which is signified in California when the term walnut 

 is used, is the English walnut or Madeira nut (Juglans regia) and 

 its many varieties. This tree makes a grand growth in California. 

 Specimens are seen here and there, which, at about twenty years 

 of age are from fifty to sixty feet in height, with a spread of 

 branches of forty to sixty feet, and in some cases bearing four to 

 eight hundred pounds of nuts. Much larger and older trees can 

 be found in the coast and interior valleys of central California 

 where the nut was first planted, although, as has already been 

 stated, the nut has thus far been produced in large quantities only 

 in regions adjacent to the coast in southern California. The equa- 

 ble temperature and moisture of the southern coast seems to speci- 

 ally favor the nut, but it must not be inferred that success can 

 only be attained in such situations. A number of French varieties, 

 which have been widely enough distributed to test their growth, 

 have been found to thrive in many situations where the old Los 

 Angeles variety is a failure, and there is at present quite a disposi- 

 tion to larger plantings of the walnut in all California valleys, 

 either as a sole occupant of the land or as border trees around fruit 

 orchards. At the South the walnut area has largely increased in 

 those situations where the tree shows most satisfactory bearing 

 qualities, and newer varieties of California origin, like the Im- 

 proved Soft Shell, constitute most of the present area. In all un- 

 tried places, or in all places where the old Los Angeles Walnut has 

 failed, trial should be made of the hardy French varieties, which 

 will be described farther on. Recently considerable planting has 

 been done in the coast and interior valleys and foot-hills of central 

 California upon the quite fully demonstrated success of these va- 

 rieties. It is, however, very desirable to secure satisfactory depth 

 and retentiveness, without excess of water, in the soil. The wal- 

 nut abhors drouth as well as standing water. 



Soils for the Walnut. The walnut makes most rapid growth 

 upon a deep, rich, moist, loamy soil, and shows its appreciation of 

 good things of the earth as do other fruit trees, and yet it attains 

 satisfactory size and bearing in less favorable situations. Thriving 



