76 Fruit Farming for Profit i?i California, 



nectarines has been very active ; and I got §300 an 

 acre for them this season. Last year I received §200. 

 I consider them a very profitable crop. A few years 

 ago yon would hardly bny them. I have some yonng 

 Bartletts which paid me SI 00 net per acre. Prom 

 twelve acres of orchard I sold §4000 worth of fruit this 

 season. 



Walnuts. 



The first matter to be considered is soil. I think a 

 deep alluvial deposit, with little or no alkali, is best 

 adapted. It requires good drainage ; any sub-soil 

 which is impervious to water being objectionable. 

 Water standing around the tree roots is hurtful, causing 

 sour sap and in time killing the tree ; it is especially 

 so if impregnated with alkali or mineral salts. I con- 

 sider a depth of less than 10 feet to water objection- 

 able, from 12 to 14 is better. Our finest nuts are 

 grown near the coast. 



In planting, trees should be put at least 50 feet apart, 

 and I think 55 or even 60 is better. I have seen trees 

 planted 40 feet apart, and after they had attained the 

 age of about 20 years the branches overlapped to such 

 an extent as to injure the fruitfulness of the tree, and 

 it became necessary to remove some of them. I think 

 soft shells might be planted 30 by 50 feet, and when 

 they are abouf 16 years of age remove each alternate 

 one, thus leaving the trees 50 by 60 feet apart. The 

 soft shell commences to bear at five years, and from that 

 time until 16 years of age a tree ought to produce a 

 total of 1000 pounds of nuts, or the trees could be taken 

 out at 12 years and transplanted to good advantage. 



