Italian Walnuts. 



519 



at 600,000 tons, producing nearly 375,000 tons of flour; 

 the rate of extraction was thus about 64 per cent. 



With the steady increase in the number of its mills, the 

 Argentine Republic was eventually enabled, first to cover its- 

 own requirements of flour, and then to export a surplus. In 

 1876 some 7,000 tons of flour were imported, but in the 

 following year the home production was equal to the con- 

 sumption, and in 1878 over 7,000 tons were exported. Since 

 the latter date, although the shipments were under 2,000 

 tons in the four following years, the country has not failed to 

 export a greater or smaller quantity each year. From 1883 

 to 1889 the consignments abroad remained at a fairly 

 constant level, fluctuating around 5,000 tons. In 1890 

 nearly 12,000 tons left the country, and the Argentine 

 trade returns show that the amounts exported during 

 subsequent years have been approximately as follows : — 



In 1891, 6,900 tons In 1895, 52,800 tons 



,, 1892, 18,500 ,, I ' 1896, 50,700 ,, 



1893. 37>200 ! ,, 1897, 40,600 



1894, 40,000 ,, i 



Most of the flour, and practically the whole in 1896 and 

 1 897, was taken by Brazil. In the first four years of the 

 present decade Paraguay annually took a couple of thousand 

 tons, and Belgium usually about the same quantity ; while in 

 i8q5, 3,000 tons were, exceptionally, sent to Great Britain. 



The walnut is cultivated to a considerable extent in 

 Southern Italy, but the acreage of the 

 wSnuts crop is net known, inasmuch as the tree 

 is grown among the vines and fruit trees 

 rather than grouped in " orchards," except in the district of 

 Sorrento. Considerable quantities of the nut are exported 

 each year to England and the United States. The tree 

 appears to grow best in good and deep garden soil, and in 

 the climate of Southern Italy it begins to yield fruit in its 

 tenth year. It is in full bearing at twenty years of age, and 

 should then continue to yield about ,50 lbs. of nuts per 

 annum. The tree is hardy, and does not require irrigation. 



