FRUIT CULTURE IN FRANCE. 
168 
The Isere Walnuts. — In the Is^re district, where good 
varieties are propagated by grafting, the Mayette, Fmnquettef 
Parisienne, and Marcliande varieties are cultivated for local 
consumption. It appears that the two last-named varieties 
require a lighter soil than the Mayette and Frafiquette ; these 
two prefer a deep, stony, fertile soil, whilst the ChahertCy 
bought by the oil manufactories, is not so particular as to the 
nature of the soil, as is also the case with Bonde, Cidoime, and 
Thivenin varieties, nuts specially suited for the oil industry. 
Eows of trees are scattered about in the fields, often accompanied 
by vine " trellises," separated by cornfields and meadows. 
Walnut cultivation has extended to the high valleys of Graisi- 
vaudan, as may be seen, for example, in Canton Gancelin. 
All the railway stations situated along this territory receive 
consignments of Walnuts. In 1880 the Gancelin station for- 
warded 100,000 kilos, of nuts. In the valley of Is^re, around 
Saint-Marcellin, you may see trees bearing 5 to 8 hectolitres 
of Walnuts, selling at 20 francs per hectolitre. But even by 
averaging the produce at only 50 francs per tree, there is still a 
good profit, there being no expenses of cultivation to consider. 
This neighbourhood is one of the richest in Walnut trees, yielding 
annually 30,000 hectolitres of the Mayette and 50,000 of the 
Chaberte varieties, the first-named being sold at 15 francs per 
hectolitre for direct consumption, and the latter to the oil 
manufactories at 3 francs. The gathering costs about 1 franc per 
hectolitre. The Vinay and Tullins cantons export the Mayette 
variety to St. Petersburg to the number of 2,000,000 nuts. The 
proprietors in these cantons make 2,000 francs by their Walnut 
trees. The fruit is sent to Marseilles on willow rafts, which are 
floated down the Ehone, the whole, both raft and fruit, being 
sold upon landing. Everywhere the walnuts from Is^re are the 
best in the market. They are sometimes called by the local 
name Archiduchesse." The 1885 crop was estimated at 
2,000,000 francs. 
The Dordogne Walnuts. — Dordogne has its plantations in 
the Sarladais district. In 1840 it was estimated that 8,727 
hectares of land in this department were devoted to the cultiva- 
tion of Walnuts, the number of trees being 600,000, of which 
30,000 belong to Canton Sarlat. The trees are grown in planta- 
tions along the hillsides and in the valleys ; they are also to be 
