BENTON BLACK WALNUT 
The original tree of this variety grows in Mr. Benton’s door yard; 
it is a beautiful large tree. This is North Lat. 41° 45’. 
Nuts of this variety won second prize in the New York and New 
England Contest of 1934. Nuts of the 1942 crop were rated by Mr. 
ioe A. Reed as follows: 34 nuts per pound, 29.40 per cent kernel, 86.68 
per cent quarters, size small, shell thickness medium, cleavage very good, 
plumpness very good, color medium, quality good, flavor good, rated A 
promising. 
We personally consider the flavor of this variety to be very good, in 
fact one of the best. This has been borne out to a considerable extent 
by the comment received from those who have received nut samples, in 
the past. 
The tree is a rapid grower and appears perfectly hardy here. No 
damage from temperature of —34° F. in 1943. 
Nuts ripen about a week earlier than those of Thomas. This is about 
the end of the first week in October here (in normal years). While this 
puts this variety in the late ripening section of our chart, it 1s in the 
early part of this section. It should not be planted in sections where the 
normal growing season is shorter than 160 to 170 days. 
