A Nut Grove for Wealth and Happiness 
Black Walnut, Hickory and Pecan 
As time goes on our trees are making better and better showings all over the country. 
The ornamental trees, pecan, hickory and ,hican, are bearing at 5 to 7 years of age, 
making the home owner enthusiastic over using these rapid growing, early bearing, beauti- 
ful foliaged trees for ornamental plantings. 
It is not he that hopes to plant, nor he that wishes he had planted, that receives 
the reward, but he that plants. “Therefore” plant “that ye may obtain.” 
The trend of thought in nut cuiture for the past 25 years has centered almost entirely 
around the profit of nuts, but with the stark tragedy of losing our surface soils staring 
us in the face, we have just recently recognized the future value of the investment of 
walnut trees as a cover crop. Authentic reports of the profit of walnut growing are seem- 
ingly unbelievable. In 1936, a County Agent of western North Carolina reported that 
one of his farmers had sold a iLee: “Stock and stump,” for $450, the stump alone amount- 
ing to $96. 
One pioneer in Iowa had such faith in the value of the black walnut that he planted 
eighty acres of good corn ground to this timber, setting them 40 x 40 feet. He steadfastly 
smiled at the gibes and criticisms of his neighbors (as anyone can do who has faith in 
something that is different from the common run of things). 
As time went on he was able to sell two and three carloads of walnuts per year on 
the Chicago market. When the war broke out and walnut timber values hit the sky, he 
sold his eighty acres of timber on the stump sixty years after planting, for the neat sum 
of $250,000. 
Of such experiences that have come to our attention, on the value of walnuts and 
timber, was one called “Tree Insurance,” published in the March, 1937, issue of “Country 
Home.” Excerpts are given here by the courtesy of that magazine. 
“Twenty-five years ago, we set out to clear our little mountain farm here in Benton 
County, Arkansas. Since fruit was considered quite profitable in this section, we were 
eager to get rid of the native growth and replace it with something more profitable. 
Instead of following the custom of our neighbors, however, Father ordered the best 
black walnut trees left standing, especially those on the abrupt slopes where erosion was 
likely to occur. Shortly we noticed the walnut trees were doing fine and bearing crops 
without any attention, while we had been keeping ourselves broke spraying for fruit of 
low market value. 
With nearly 200 walnut trees we were able to harvest 200 bushels four years ago and 
an increasing amount as they keep getting larger. 
With a $7.00 hand cracker, we can produce and sell for a good price all we crack. 
Timber prices range from $30 to $100 per tree.” 
But you will say, regarding the value of the lumber, suppose everybody plants walnut 
trees. The answer is—everybody won't. 
A grove of nut trees planted now will help in the next depression. Get started on your 
depression insurance. 
Plant nut trees as a hobby—as an invest- 
ment—for the good of posterity, whether a 
large grove or a few trees it is a paying 
proposition. Those who have already made 
large plantings are extremely pleased, 
some stoutly declaring they will do better 
than we claim. 
We must get back to the pioneer “help 
yourself” plan. Then, and then only, will 
we be on a sound business basis. For the 
land owner there is no more fundamental 
procedure than to turn to “tree crops”, the 
original food of man, for a rehabilitation of 
his land and financial values. MAN IS 
TURNING TO NATURE AND NAT- 
URAL FOOD] FOR 4HIS = ECONOMIC 
SALVATION, hence the stimulant to plant 
tree crops (black walnuts) as this nut has 
the highest flavor and the tree is the hardi- 
est. 
Black 
In my extensive travels in the interest of 
“tree crops,” I find both commercial plant- 
ers and “seekers of better new varieties” de- 
Walnut Varieties 
claring the Thomas is the best nut yet with 
Stabler a close second. 
Thomas,—originated at King of Prussia, 
near Philadelphia, Pa. Tree a remarkable 
grower, very upright; nuts large and attrac- 
tive, kernel light colored and of excellent 
mild flavor, cracks out in quarters. The 
leading commercial variety. 
Stabler,—originated near Washington in 
Maryland. Growth more spready than the 
Thomas, is more ornamental in foliage and 
not quite so rapid in growth; nut small and 
oblong, very thin shelled, kernel light in 
color and richer than the Thomas in oil 
and flavor. For home cracking it is the best. 
Ohio,—originated in N. E. Ohio. A rapid 
grower with handsome contour and foliage; 
nut medium in size, oblong in shape, an 
early and heavy bearer, and although liked 
by many is not as good a cracker as the 
others. The most ornamental of the walnuts. 
Because of continued unsuccess of the 
English Walnut we have discontinued this 
line. 
