THE WALNUTS CALIFORNIA WALNUT. 47 



MIRZA (pi. 7, fig. 3). Received from W. H. McKinney, Morrow, Ohio. A large 

 nut with thin shell. Kernel large and of good flavor. Mr. McKinney writes: "I 

 have been planting this seedling for fifteen years. It and another are seedlings from 

 two trees on second bottom land; they now are about 45 years old and measure 36 to 

 40 inches in diameter at 1 foot from the ground." 



MISSOURI. Specimens from J. H. Rose, Gait, Mo. Size medium; form oval, 

 compressed, with quite smooth shell; cracking qualities good; kernel light-colored, 

 plump; flavor pleasant, quite free from the grossness characterizing the species; 

 quality very good. 



"PEANUT" (pi. 7, fig. 2). Received from W. N. Irwin, South Salem, Ohio. It is 

 a rather small pyriform nut. Its name was given because of the resemblance of its 

 kernel to that of the peanut. The shell is thin, and is easily cracked, while the 

 kernel, which is in the larger end of the nut, comes out entire. The peculiar form is 

 apparently due to some defect in the pistil, as but one side of the nut "fills" and 

 matures. A large proportion, though not all, of the fruit on the tree is of this form 

 each year. The kernel is white and of delicate flavor. 



TAYLOR (pi. 7, fig. 1). From W. N. Irwin, South Salem, Ohio. It is a quadran- 

 gular pointed nut of good size. The shell is thin and easily broken with a slight blow. 

 The kernel is large, coming out in halves; the meat is white and of fine quality. 



THOMAS. Specimens from James W. Thomas & Sons, King of Prussia, Pa. 

 Size large; form otflate, compressed, slightly pointed at base, considerably so at 

 apex ; shell medium to thin; cracking qualities medium, the kernel not easily removed 

 in perfect halves from the shell ; flavor sweet, rich ; quality good to very good. 



CALIFORNIA WALNUT (Juglans Californica Watson). 



The correct botanical position of this, the native walnut of central California, is 

 yet open to discussion. It has been included under Juglans rupestris of Englemaun, 

 a species whose type is found in Texas and Arizona, as a low, many-branched shrub ; 

 but because of the larger growth, both of tree and nut, as well as its comparatively 

 distinct area of distribution, we have followed the specific name given by Watson, as 

 noted above. Its chief value to the pomologist would seem to lie in its availability 

 as a stock for the Persian walnut, and possibly as a supplier of pollen for varieties of 

 that nut which fail to set fruit when planted by themselves. Though sometimes 

 marketed in California, its nuts have too small a proportion of meat and are inclosed 

 within too hard and thick a shell to have any considerable market value. 



Wicksou' says of it: "This nut is first in importance among the native nuts of 

 California. The tree is described as attaining a height of from 00 to 75 feet, with a 

 diameter of trunk of 2 to 4 feet. It is more graceful than the grosser Persian walnut; 

 not so heavy as the great black walnut of the West, nor so open, light, and airy as the 

 white butternut of the Eastern States. The nut i$ roundish, somewhat variable in 

 size, much smoother than the Eastern black walnut, and the kernel is sweeter and 

 of a more delicate flavor. The tree prefers deep, moist soils, and is usually found 

 along the creeks. Its range is from the central zone of the State southward to Santa 

 Barbara, and from there eastward through southern Arizona into New Mexico and 

 Sonora. The tree is a popular shade and avenue tree, and the root succeeds admi- 

 rably as a stock for the Persian walnut." 



Theodore B. Hall, Yuba City, Gal., writes: " The California black walnut, which 

 is native to some parts of the State, bears a nut a little smaller than the Eastern 

 black walnut, and without the peculiar flavor of the Eastern nut. Tree a rapid grower 

 in this locality; planted largely for shade, especially along roadsides. Nut good; 

 sold in all the markets cheap." 



1 California Fruits, page 58. 



