42 BULLETIN 933, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



deep-feeding root system that transplanting soon becomes very ex- 

 pensive and is liable to result in injury to the roots and, possibly, in 



the subsequent death of the seedlings. 



SPACING. 



The spacing depends altogether upon the kind of plantation the 

 owner intends to have. If he intends to bestow careful management 

 upon his trees and get the best results from them, the initial spacing 

 should be close (4 by 4 feet), and thinnings should also be made 

 without fail when the crowns begin to interfere with one another. If, 

 on the other hand, the owner plants the trees as a side line, to add 

 to the appearance of his farm, protect his stock, or occupy some out- 

 of-the-way corner, and if it is his intention to let them develop as 

 they will, a much wider spacing is advisable — say 6 by 16 feet. If 

 they are planted closer the trees are liable to enter into active 

 competition before they become merchantable. If they are uncared 

 for they will so interfere with each other that after a time none will 

 have much value; in extreme cases, decay and death may overtake 

 the trees before they are merchantable. If the trees are grown for 

 the production of nuts, a spacing of 50 to 60 feet would be advisable. 



Although walnut is too coarse branched and thin foliaged to 

 make a first-class windbreak, it may sometimes be desirable to plant 

 it in single rows for this purpose. In single rows close spacing is 

 admissible even if it is not expected that the trees will be carefully 

 managed, for plenty of side space will be available. A spacing of 

 4 to 6 feet apart in the rows is satisfactory. In pastures walnut trees 

 may be planted singly or in groups. If the trees are planted singly, 

 a typical low-crowned spreading tree will develop that would yield 

 one short log. This log would not be of high value, but, nevertheless, 

 it would be merchantable. In groups of a dozen trees or so some 

 of the trees in the middle of the group ought to produce very good 

 logs — not of forest-grown form, it is true, but, nevertheless, superior 

 to single trees grown in the open. Whenever planting is done the 

 plans should provide for the maturing at one time of 40 trees at 

 least. It is to be borne in mind that in a close plantation 80 per 

 cent of the trees will be cut in thinnings before maturity. If he has 

 at least 40 trees maturing at once, the owner is assured of a market 

 at any time and a better price, as those trees will make at least 4 

 thousand board feet, or one carload of logs. 



PROTECTION FROM GRAZING. 



General grazing is not likely to harm a well-established planta- 

 tion, provided too many live stock are not permitted on the area and 

 no part of it is made to serve as a feed lot. New plantations, how- 



