in California, and especially in the older walnut sections, is the
bacterial disease commonly known as walnut blight. The inroads of this
disease have caused a very heavy dropping of the nuts during many
seasons of the past, and although a great deal of time and scientific
effort has been devoted to the control of the trouble, there is no
satisfactory known means for the prevention of walnut blight at the
present time.
It is a well-known fact that in the vegetable kingdom closely related
species suffer in different degrees from the attacks of the same
parasite. This difference in resistance is often as marked among
different varieties of the same species as between the species
themselves. The absence of blight is not necessarily an indication of
immunity. There is a great deal of difference in the amount of blight
prevalent at the present season in the different walnut growing
sections. Again, the immunity from blight of a particular tree for one
season may be followed by more or less prevalency of blight on the same
tree the next season. The degree of resistance must be tested out
through a number of years before any variety can be pronounced resistant
to this disease. The observations must also be carried out in different
localities as certain varieties seem to behave differently on different
soils and when growing under different climatic conditions.
Some varieties seem to avoid the blight the majority of the seasons but
really have little or no resistant qualities when the seasonal
conditions and the growth of the plant happen to coincide with the most
favorable time for the spread of the disease. An example of this is seen
in the Eureka variety the present season. While this variety has
maintained a reputation during a majority of seasons for freedom from
blight, during the present year the Eureka is badly diseased in certain
sections of Orange County. This may, perhaps, be explained by the
prevalence of damp, cloudy weather for about a week or ten days during
the first of May when this variety was in full bloom. In one grove under
observation the trees were thought to have lost at least 50 per cent of
their blossoms soon after blooming. At the present time on these same
trees, 32 per cent of the nuts are afflicted with more or less blight.
To be sure, some of these will likely mature, but the appearance of
blight on nearly one third of the crop shows that this variety has very
little resistant power against walnut blight. Its freedom from disease
in the past has no doubt been due largely to its dormancy during the
most favorable weather conditions for the spread of blight.
The field for the selection of blight resistant varieties must
necessarily be in the badly blighted sections. A tree with only 10 per
cent blighted nuts in an orchard having an average of 70 per cent to 80
per cent may really be more resistant to blight than a variety which
appears to be positively free from the disease when growing among trees
which are only 15 per cent to 20 per cent blighted. In making
observations and selections, therefore, it is quite as important to know
the amount of blight on the surrounding trees and the grove, as a whole,
as it is to know the prevalence of blight on the selected individual.
The extreme variation of different seedling trees in their
susceptibility to this disease is well illustrated in some of the
following observations which were made the present year. The percentages
which follow the varieties named were determined by counting at least
100 nuts on a tree just before the blighted nuts began to drop. In a
seedling grove in the Whittier district about 300 trees were examined
and 100 nuts counted on each tree. The individual trees varied from 2
per cent to 85 per cent blighted nuts, while the grove as a whole
averaged 25 per cent. There were at least a dozen or fifteen trees in
this grove which were blighted less than 10 per cent, although some of
the nearby trees were blighted as high as 60 per cent or 70 per cent.
Another seedling grove in Orange County which was counted in the same
way, averaged 47 per cent blighted nuts during the second week in June.
In making this determination 105 trees were examined. In this same
grove, there were, however, at least three trees which averaged less
than 6 per cent blighted nuts.
It is interesting to know that the Placentia variety, growing within a
stone's throw of the aforementioned seedling grove and under identical
cultural conditions, was blighted to the extent of 71.9 per cent on the
same date.
Observations of the Prolific (Ware's) in the vicinity of the above
mentioned grove, showed less than 1 per cent blighted nuts on the trees
and practically none of the nuts have dropped to the ground at the
present time, yet in the past this variety has not had a reputation for
disease immunity. The original Chase tree was observed during this time
and showed a percentage of 37 per cent blighted nuts. These examples are
given neither in support of any particular variety nor to discredit
others, but are noted merely to call attention to the wide variation,
and this variation is a great source of encouragement in our endeavors
to produce a disease resistant variety.
Of course blight immunity is not the only factor to be considered in
selecting a variety of walnut. A profitable yield of good commercial
nuts is the real test of the superiority of any variety. A very heavy
yielding tree with a small amount of blight may prove more profitable
than a light yielding variety that is totally immune to this disease.
The production of a medium grade nut which would grade only as a
seedling No 1, might prove more profitable if the tree is at least
partially blight immune than the production of such a high grade nut as
the Placentia with its susceptibility to blight. These things must be
considered and weighed carefully by the growers who are planting walnuts
in the blight sections. The various areas where walnut blight is not a
factor might profitably sacrifice heavy production to superior quality.
From our present knowledge it is very apparent that the disease
resistance of individual trees varies considerably from year to year and
under different soil and climatic conditions. The thorough testing of
resistant varieties will require considerable time.
_Nut Characteristics_
The character of the nuts is as variable as the trees themselves, not
only in the exterior appearance, but in the character of the meats as
well. The ideal commercial nut should be of medium size, about one and
one-eighth to one and one-half inches in diameter, of regular oval form
somewhat elongated, with smooth surface, and light brown color, and
uniform for these characters. The cracking quality of the nuts is quite
as important as their exterior appearance. The nuts should be well
sealed so they will not crack open in shipping. The shells should be
thin but strong, so the nut may be easily opened and the whole meat
taken out intact. The pellicle surrounding the kernel should be light
tan colored or silvery brown with a glossy waxed appearance attractive
to look upon. The meat should be smooth, and plump, averaging 50 per
cent or more of the total weight of the nut, and with a mild, pleasant
flavor, free from any astringency.
The shells vary all the way from extremely rough and unattractive
specimens to the smooth commercial type, as the Placentia, while the
color of the meats varies from dark brown to nearly white, and so on
through the other characteristics mentioned.
In the selection of varieties the walnut breeder is exceptionally
favored by the occurrence of large areas of seedling trees. According to
the 1910 census there were in the neighborhood of one and a quarter
million seedling trees growing in California. With this almost unlimited
material for selective use, it seems indeed reasonable that many
varieties will be selected in the future which are better adapted to the
demands of the industry than some of those now being propagated. By
means of hybridizing methods it is also hoped that some of the desirable
unit characters of the varieties now in cultivation may be recombined
into more nearly ideal varieties for future generations. The fact that
walnut breeding is necessarily a long-termed, expensive problem has made
it rather unattractive to the practical breeders. Such work will depend
largely upon public or specially endowed institutions for its support.
PRUNING THE PERSIAN WALNUT
J. G. RUSH, WEST WILLOW, PA.
Pruning is as old as horticulture itself, but the Persian walnut has
escaped this treatment thus far. Practical experience, however, in
growing these trees for fruiting, shows the great importance of
systematic pruning. It is a common occurrence to see a young tree with
straggling and irregular growths. Very frequently we see that growth
takes place on part of the tree only, leaving the other part
undeveloped, which would throw the tree very much out of balance in
course of time. Pruning should begin early in the life of the young tree
and as soon as it leaves the nursery the pruning shears should be in
evidence.
There are two important objects in view in proper and systematic
pruning. First is form, with a well balanced head. Second, to increase
productiveness by having more lateral branches properly distributed all
over the tree. As a matter of course productiveness will follow.
It is a singular fact that a misfortune can sometimes develop into a
blessing. Last year, 1914, was an unfortunate one in that an early and
late drouth caused poor bud development, and, of course, they were not
in a condition to withstand our usual winter weather.
In the spring of 1915, as soon as bud development took place, I
commenced to prune. I cut off all weak branches to a strong bud and
sometimes went over the trees a second time in order to insure that the
work should be well done. These trees referred to are mostly three years
old and at that age the pruning should be done very systematically.
It is a mistake to have a tree three or four years old in bearing. You
will have branches from 2 to 4 feet long without any laterals, quite
differently from other fruits, as the apple, peach, pear, etc. If these
long branches are allowed to remain you will find that the terminal buds
will develop nuts and weigh down the branch. But with proper management
the life and productiveness of the tree can be improved by pruning. A
branch 3 or 4 feet long should be cut back one half. Of course great
care must be taken where the cut is made, for the future welfare of the
tree.
I have a very fine five-year-old Hall variety on my side lawn that
shows the neglect of proper pruning at the right time. The branches are
entirely too long and drooping. In order to overcome this defect I will
have to cut back to two-year-old wood and force the dormant buds for the
future tree.
There is another great advantage in the proper method of pruning the
young Persian, that is, that the finest kind of bud wood becomes
available.
You will please remember that in pruning the walnut we are not pruning
for color as with other fruits.
The tree should be as round headed as a Norway maple, and if some of the
limbs should show indications of weakness by crowding then cut them out
for the benefit of others close by.
REPORT ON NUT GROWING IN CANADA
G. H. CORSAN, TORONTO
Not being able to meet with you this September, as I have to go down to
the State of Mississippi, I send this paper to your president whose
paper on the Garden of Eden we all read in the _Country Gentlemen_ of
July 7, and so much admired.
Progress has not been made on my place sufficient to warrant my inviting
you to Toronto next convention, but I will say that the year after next
I will certainly have something worth seeing. But Dr. J. H. Kellogg of
Battle Creek, Mich., extends an invitation to you to hold the next
convention at the Battle Creek Sanitarium where nuts and nut
preparations are used exclusively in the place of meat and fish and
fowl. Here at Battle Creek on Dr. Kellogg's private grounds and on the
Sanitarium grounds may be seen Colonel Sober's Paragon chestnuts, Mr.
Pomeroy's English walnuts and Mr. Reed's grafted pecans, as well as some
grafted persimmons of named varieties. In my statement in the _American
Nut Journal_ last May or June I mentioned that all the grafted
persimmons sent from Washington were winter-killed. I find on returning
in August that the Early Golden is very much alive. Twelve other
varieties have been planted to see what this winter will do to them. The
persimmon is exceedingly interesting to us northern nut growers because
where it will succeed the pecan will also, without a doubt. Now I also
find that my statement in the same paper that the grafted pecans sent by
Mr. Reed were winter-killed was an error, as only certain trees failed
to grow above the graft. Those that are growing are the Major, Busseron
and Indiana, the Busseron showing most decidedly better than the
Indiana, both here and at Toronto. All pecans lived, both here and at
Toronto, if I include those that sprung up below the graft. Out of
thirteen varieties that I experimented with at Toronto, Major, Posey and
Niblack were the only ones that lived well above the graft and showed no
winter-killing. Others were more or less winter-killed. Kentucky,
Mantura, Appomattox, Luce and Greenriver showed no desire to live in the
north. Mr. Pomeroy's English walnuts showed a most distinct dislike for
Toronto, but all forty-eight are doing well here and are being cared
for.
Colonel Sober's Paragon chestnuts showed the most determined attempt to
not grow the Paragon part of the tree, and an equally determined mind to
grow good and strong below the Paragon part--may this part yield good
trees! I have three or four Paragons left out of 135 trees. Pecans grew
as many as four feet both here and at Toronto this summer.
Of the new trees sent from Washington two specimens of Castanea Crenata
(from the north Island of Japan), six specimens of Castanea Mollissima
(almost blight proof, from north China) all are thriving.
Juglans regia sinensis lived to the tip through the winter and budded
out strong from the top, as did J. cordiformis--may it always be so.
_Re_ Dr. Deming's question as to the farthermost northern pecans I said
Charles City, Iowa. Now these forty trees were planted twenty years ago
and are all alive and yield crops, but the nuts are small as they are
seedlings. Write Mr. Charles D. Patten _re_ how his trees are doing and
their history. He has been asking Mr. Reed for scions of better trees.
I have five types of soil to grow my trees in, stiff clay, rich gravel,
quicksand and humus, light sand and silt or bottom land, well drained. I
have no sour, undrained spot on my fifteen acres.
APPENDIX
PRESENT AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS
ASSOCIATION
Henry T. Brown, Rochester
Mrs. McLean, Rochester
Rev. A. C. Crapsey, Rochester
Prof. Fairchild, University Rochester
Chas. E. Bunnell, Rochester
S. W. Taylor, Stamford, Conn.
Herbert E. Ingram, 432 4th Ave., New York
Dr. J. W. Jackson, Dansville, N. Y.
Martha Rush, New Providence, Lancaster Co., Pa.
Edna Mylin, Willow St., Pa.
Paul White, Boonville, Ind.
J. G. Rush, West Willow, Pa.
J. F. Jones, Lancaster, Pa.
John S. Parish, Eastham, Va.
Thos. P. Littlepage, Washington, D. C.
Dr. and Mrs. Wm. C. Deming, Georgetown, Conn.
Ralph T. Olcott, Rochester
Dr. Robt. T. Morris, New York City
Dean Baker, Syracuse, N. Y.
E. R. Angst, Wilmington, Del.
H. L. Grubbs, Fairview, Pa.
M. E. Wile, Rochester
Harry R. Weber, Cincinnati, Ohio
Frank A. Bailey, Rochester
E. E. Streeter, Rochester
C. K. Sober, Lewisburg, Pa.
W. C. Reed, Vincennes, Ind.
M. P. Reed, Vincennes, Ind.
Dr. J. Russell Smith, Swarthmore, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Reed, Washington, D. C.
Carl J. Poll, Danville, Ill.
Walter C. Teter, New York City
Jas. S. McGlennon, Rochester
Conrad Vollertsen, Rochester
H. L. Reynolds, Canandaigua, N. Y.
Prof. and Mrs. F. N. Fagan, State College, Pa.
Jas. Rissew, Macedon, N. Y.
J. C. South, Rochester
R. L. Fitzgerald, Rochester
H. M. Brown, Fairport, N. Y.
Nellie Doty Butts, Barnards, N. Y.
H. Goodall, Spencerport, N. Y.
John Rick, Reading, Pa.
W. A. H. Reider, Reading, Pa.
Adelbert Thompson, East Avon, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y.
Daniel Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y.
Howard Pomeroy, Lockport, N. Y.
C. C. Laney, Rochester, N. Y.
John Dunbar, Rochester, N. Y.
E. B. Holden, Hilton, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Abrams, Charlotte, N. Y.
Henry Hohener, Rochester, N.Y.
Dr. Charles Forbes, Brick Church Institute, Rochester, N. Y.
PROGRAM FOR AUTOMOBILE TRIPS SEPTEMBER
1ST AND 2D, 1915
The program below is intended as a guide only. It may be necessary on
account of conditions to vary this. It is therefore highly important
that all automobiles follow one another along the lines later designated
in this sheet.
On the afternoons of September 1st and 2d, we propose to drive in
automobiles to the various trees of interest in the immediate
neighborhood of Rochester. The limit of the trip on September 1st will
be Hilton, N. Y. The present plan is to visit the trees in the following
order:
1--230 Saratoga Avenue, Persian Walnut seedling;
2--Kramer, Emerson Street and Lake Avenue, Persian Walnut (This is
the parent tree of the Thompson Grove seedlings at East Avon, N.
Y.);
3--Riverside Cemetery, Hybrid Hickory Laneyii (tree named after Mr.
Calvin C. Laney, Superintendent of Parks, Rochester, N. Y., by Dr.
Sargeant of the Arnold Arboretum);
4--Westgate farm, Stone Road, Persian Walnut seedlings and filberts
(nuts for the seedling trees and filbert bushes imported from
England);
5--W. H. Anderson and Wm. Twitchill, Ridge Road, seedling Walnut
(of these one tree 105 years old);
6--Hilton, N. Y., Holden trees, from which the Holden Walnuts
originated;
7--McGlennon Nursery, Denise Road, filbert plantings, two years
old;
8--Clifford Avenue, between St. Paul Street and Clinton Avenue
North, seedling Walnuts;
9--Spiegel Park, seedling Walnuts;
10--Culver Road and Parsells Avenue, Hybrid Walnut and Butternuts.
(End of trip September 1st, 1915)
_September 2d, 1915_
1--Gregory Street, McGlennon Nursery, filberts; 2--Highland Park,
Hazel; 3--West Brighton, Mrs. W. J. Miller, seedling Walnuts;
4--Golah, N. Y., King Nut Hickory; 5--Seedling Walnut grove,
Adelbert Thompson, East Avon, N. Y.
All automobiles intended to convey members of the Association will have
a sign "Northern Nut Growers Association." All cars will follow a pilot
car, which will be plainly marked. There will be one relief car, which
will be plainly marked, and will carry no passengers except in
emergency. In the event of any break-down in an automobile, the
emergency car will immediately pick up the passengers of the one
delayed, and transfer its sign to the delayed car. The delayed car,
after repairs, will act as a relief car in its place.
The start of both trips will be made from Powers Hotel at 1:45 P. M.
All members are requested to be on hand promptly, as the several
stops will consume considerable time. Unless delay in starting is
provided against, the trip may be prolonged beyond a comfortable limit.
_Local Committee_
Ralph T. Olcott
Supt. C. C. Laney, Park Dept.
Asst. Supt. John Dunbar, Park Dept.
M. E. Wile
Mrs. W. D. Ellwanger
James S. McGlennon
W. Robert Bruce
John Hall, Secy. W.N.Y. Hort. Soc.
EXHIBITS
Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazel Branch Dr. R. T. Morris
Corylus avellana European Hazel Stem showing blight Dr. R. T. Morris
Corylus colurna Byzantine Hazel Branch Dr. R. T. Morris
Corylus avellana Purple Variety Branch Dr. R. T. Morris
Corylus pontica Pontine Hazel Branch Dr. R. T. Morris
Corylus avellana Var. Barcelona Branch J. G. Rush
Corylus americana Var. Rush Branch J. G. Rush
Long Hazel Joseph Risseu
Walworth, N.Y.
Round Hazel Joseph Risseu,
Walworth, N.Y.
Hicoria ovata Var. Taylor Nuts Dr. R. T. Morris
Hicoria ovata Var. LeFevre Nuts J. G. Rush
Hicoria ovata Plate Nuts Miss Ruth N. Reeves
Newark, N.Y.
Juglans regia Var. Alpine Miss Ruth N. Reeves,
Newark, N.Y.
Juglans regia Var. Nebo Miss Ruth N. Reeves,
Newark, N.Y.
Rush Miss Ruth N. Reeves,
Newark, N.Y.
Hall Miss Ruth N. Reeves,
Newark. N.Y.
Juglans hybrid supposed J. regia Miss Ruth N. Reeves,
X cinerea Newark, N.Y.
Juglans regia Var. Holden spec. E. B. Holden,
Hilton, N.Y.
Juglans cathayensis Foliage Park Board,
Rochester
Juglans rupestris 2 clusters, 4 nuts Park Board,
each and foliage Rochester
Juglans sieboldiana cluster 7 nuts and Park Board,
foliage Rochester
Pteryocarya stenoptera False Walnut Foliage Park Board,
Rochester
Castanea sativa Var. Paragon Branch with one very J. S. Parish,
large bur Eastham, Va.
Castanea pumila Common chinquapin Branch with cluster
of nuts Dr. R. T. Morris
Castanea pumila Southwestern Branch with nuts
chinquapin Dr. R. T. Morris
Panel with general collection of pecans, hickory nuts and walnuts,
W. C. Reed,
Vincennes, Ind.
Juglans nigra Var. Rush Nuts J. G. Rush
Juglans regia Branch Mrs. B. S. Abrams,
Latta Farm,
Charlotte, N.Y.
RESOLUTIONS
PASSED BY THE NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION IN SESSION AT
ROCHESTER, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2, 1915
No chestnut stock should go out unless it is thoroughly sterilized by
some satisfactory method and tagged by proper authority to show that
fact.
States that are still clear of the blight are advised that effective
quarantine is desirable to delay, for a time at least, the spread of the
blight. Four infestations of chestnut blight have been found in Indiana
in July and August, 1915. This fact, and the continued spread of this
fatal fungus, are some of the reasons for this recommendation.
* * * * *
Nut trees may and do sometimes come fairly true to type but they do not
come true to variety. Consequently our association does not approve of
the sale of seedling trees under variety names; and this association
further recommends to all journals that they take no advertisements for
nut trees if such trees are not sold under conditions that clearly
comply with the provisions of this resolution.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR.
The Chestnut Bark Disease on Freshly Fallen Nuts. J. Franklin Collins.
Reprinted from _Phytopathology_, Vol. V, No. 4, August, 1913. With One
Figure in the Text.
Melaxuma of the Walnut, "Juglans regia." (A Preliminary Report.) Howard
S. Fawcett. Bulletin No. 261, Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley,
California, November, 1915.
The Pecan Business. From Planting the Nuts to Gathering the Nuts.
Catalogue of B. W. Stone, nurseryman, Thomasville, Georgia, containing
cuts and information about pecan growing in the South.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Convention of the National Nut
Growers Association, held at Albany, Georgia, October 27-29, 1915.
Report of the Proceedings at the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Northern
Nut Growers Association at Rochester, New York, September 1 and 2, 1915.
(In press.)
Walnut Aphides in California. W. M. Davidson. (Professional Paper.)
Bulletin of the United States Department of Agriculture No. 100, August
31, 1914.
The Possibilities of Nut Growing in the East. W. C. Deming. _Women's
National Agricultural and Horticultural Association Quarterly_, August,
1915.
The _Walnut Book and Horticultural Digest_, A Monthly Publication
Devoted to the Production, Distribution and Consumption of the Walnut.
Vol. I, No. 1, November, 1915. The Walnut Book Publishing Co., Orenco,
Oregon. One dollar a year. Official Organ of the Western Walnut
Association.
Nut Trees for the Country's Waste Places. Gilbert E. Bailey, Ph.D.
University of Southern California. _American Fruits_, July, 1915, p. 8.
The Inside of a Graft. F. A. Waugh, _The Country Gentleman_, February
20, 1915, p. 328.
Progress of Nut Culture in the East. Possibilities of a Coming Industry.
W. C. Deming. _The Rural New-Yorker_, March 6, 1915, p. 327.
Illustrations of methods of budding and grafting nut trees.