THOMAS, no doubt, is still entitled to first place. We made a poor start
with Thomas as our first graft was placed on a stock growing at the edge
of low swampy ground and the nuts of this graft have never matured
properly, while those from two younger grafts, on higher ground, have
matured their nuts well. This shows that black walnuts should not be
planted in low wet ground, that is, land that is actually swampy; low
ground which is well-drained is all right.
We have found Thomas to be a fast growing and very good type tree. The
nut is large, thin-shelled and cracks excellently, giving light-colored
fine appearing kernels, largely in whole quarters. We do not consider
the flavor of Thomas to be one of the best. I have tested this many
times by cracking nuts of Benton, Snyder, Sparrow and Thomas, and then,
without revealing which is which, have had various people try them and
pick out the ones they like best; Benton and Sparrow in all cases were
liked best, Snyder second and Thomas always least in favor. Thomas is a
consistent bearer here.
SPARROW is a little known variety which has a good many good points in
its favor. In my opinion, it surpasses Thomas in everything except size
of nut and cracking quality. In cracking quality I consider them to be
about equal. Sparrow originated near Lomax, Ill. Wood of it was sent to
us by C. A. Reed in the Spring of 1938. It has never been entered in any
contest so is little known. The tree may not be quite as fast growing as
Thomas, but it retains its foliage in the fall until cut by hard frost,
long after its nuts have ripened, while Thomas will be nearly bare of
leaves for some time before frost or its nuts are ripe. Sparrow ripens
its nuts a full two weeks ahead of Thomas.
The nuts of Sparrow are medium in size, being about 27 to the pound
while Thomas will run about 19 or 20 to the pound. The nuts of Sparrow
look small while on the tree because it has a thin husk. Yet it husks
easily, coming out of the husk cleaner than any other black walnut I
know of. Also I have never seen a husk maggot in this variety while some
varieties with thick husks were badly infested. As the nut ripens, the
husk turns yellow. The nut yields practically 30% kernel (29.94%) with
96% unbroken quarters. Color of kernel is bright and the flavor is
excellent. Sparrow has borne consistently.
SNYDER is a fairly well-known variety, having won first prize in the New
York and New England contest of 1934. The tree is a little slower in
growing than most varieties, yet it bears young and consistently Like
Sparrow, it retains its foliage well until cut by frost. The nut is
large, being about 21 per pound, with a very thick husk, on which
account it should be husked as soon as gathered, as the husk will turn
dark and stain the kernel. It ripens at the same time as Sparrow, last
of September here. The nut cracks well, yielding about 25% kernel of
good quality, about 95% in unbroken quarters. The color of the kernel
tends to be a little dark.
Certainly Snyder should prove to be a valuable variety for short season
locations and possibly as a pollinizer for Sparrow. Also the retention
of foliage in fall, until cut by frost, make this and Sparrow of
considerable ornamental value. Early dropping of the foliage in the fall
is a serious fault of some varieties as an ornamental.
BENTON originated with us, the original tree growing in Mr. Benton's
dooryard. It won second prize in the New York and New England contest of
1934. The nut is rather small, running about 34 to the pound. However,
it yields about 29% kernel of excellent quality, light in color and
about 86% quarters. It ripens about a week later than Snyder and
Sparrow. It is a consistent bearer, a fairly fast growing tree, but only
fair as to retention of foliage in the fall.
STAMBAUGH is a well known variety, but we are a little too far north for
it, 41 deg.45' N. Lat. It matures well here only in our most favorable
seasons. It appears to be an excellent nut, large, good cracking quality
and good flavor. It appears to be a little capricious as to bearing, two
years ago our one graft was heavily loaded, but there was no crop last
year and a light one only this year. In spite of the lateness in
maturing the nut, the tree sheds its foliage early.