TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



211 



THE WALNUT, AND ITS COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS. 



By frank E. KELLOGG, of Goleta. 



The English Avahiut is a native of Persia. From its native habitat 

 it has been transplanted into many of the countries of Europe, and 

 finally found its way to both North and South America. It is supposed 

 to have been introduced into California by the Franciscan monks dur- 

 ing the establishment of the missions, in 1769. 



The first plantings outside of the missions Avere made in San Diego 

 in 1843, by the late Colonel J. J. Warner, and in Napa Valley midway 

 between St. Helena and Calistoga, in 1848, by my father, the late F. E. 

 Kellogg, Sr. 



But until recently the industry has been one of very tardy growth. 

 Although the plantings in the northern and southern parts of the State 

 began almost simultaneously, owing to more favorable climatic con- 

 ditions the southern part has far outstripped the northern, insomuch 

 that the southern counties are to-day almost the sole producers. 



And even in southern California few localities possess the proper 

 climatic requirements. The interior valleys are too hot and dry in 

 summer and too frosty in winter, while much of the coast region is too 

 raw and windy. The best Avalnut-growing districts are those parts of 

 southern California which are sheltered by the mountains from the 

 hot winds of the interior, and which are moistened by occasional warm 

 summer fogs. 



These conditions seem to be most perfectly met in the counties of 

 Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange. These four counties 

 constitute the most important walnut-growing region on the earth 

 to-day, exceeding all others both in the quality and in the quantity of 

 nuts produced. 



The soil best adapted to walnut-growing is a deep, sandy loam con- 

 taining a slight admixture of adobe, which has no underlying hardpan, 

 and where the surface water is from 10 to 25 feet from the surface in 

 the dry season of the year. Where the average annual rainfall reaches 

 17 or 18 inches, no irrigation is required; but where the rainfall is 

 much less than this, irrigation is necessary. 



The walnut tree requires no pruning, except the removal of the lower 

 branches which interfere with cultivation; also, any dead branches 

 should be removed. 



In respect to cultivation, the walnut should be treated the same as 

 any of our common orchard trees. Thorough cultivation should be the 

 rule. 



There are two principal varieties of walnuts, known respectively as 

 " soft-shell " and " hard-shell." The former is the more thrifty, bears 



