Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-10

sandy BOIL OF hancnltOs, OF upon IN
darker, heavier, but equally fertile sol
of Old Los Nietos, are as large in size
fine in quality, and in as great deman
as the choicest imported nuts; and th'
reputation of the nuts grown in thes'
two places of Los Nietos Valley is a
important factor in selling the entir
crop of Los Angeles county. AT leas
that is the inference we draw, when W
see sacks bearing the mark "Los Nietos
Walnuts" sent to the various parts of tn
county to be filled with the nuts sold b,
certain Los Angeles commission houses
And in the further fact that in the Sa1
Francisco Merchant and in the New
York market reports Los Nietos walnuts
are always quoted in good demand, and
at from II to II cents per pound higher
than nuts from other localities.
The trees are grown from nuts, W bicl
may be planted in the fall, or in the
spring, say about March.
| The ground is first plowed deep, then
narrowed and leveled. With a small
plow open furrow three or four inches
deep, and drop the walnuts about Is tc
"a inches apart in the furrow, then GOV.
er with plow, harrow the land and the
planting is done. After the trees ap-
pear above ground, cultivate carefully
and often, but do not irrigate oftener
than necessary. More trees are injured
by too much, than by too little water.
When the trees are from two to four
years old, they should be transplanted
to land previously we'll prepared. Set
the trees in rows forty feet apart each
way, keep we'll cultivated, and irrigats
once or twice year until they are large
enough to shade the ground when irri.
CATION can cease altogether.
Some prefer to plant in boxes or bar
rels of damp sand. and when the trees
are from four to six inches high, trans.
plant at once to the places where they
are to grow. For ourselves we prefer
the former method, as inquiry and OBJ
servation show to us that if four.y ear
old tree is properly transplanted, there
need be no loss, and the tree will come
into bearing at least three years earlier
than one transplanted during its first
year.
In this valley large crops of corn can be
raised each year between the trees until
they come into bearing, thus insuring TO
the industrious farmer continuous rev.
enue.
The walnuts raised in this valley are
classed as hardshell and softshell, the
latter now being most in favor in con-
sequence OF coming earlier into bearing
and producing finer nut than the hard
shell. Either variety produces large
crops, and such u thing as a failure is
almost unknown.
A few walnut groves in this valley
were killed during the wet season of
1894 by being insufficiently drained,
1t being generally supposed that owing
to lack of drainage, the roots of
the trees were standing in water for
some weeks, and as the warm weather
came early, the flowing sap was soured
by the combined action of sun and
water, thereby permeaiing every portion
of the tree aud causing its death, but
generally the trees are absolutely hardy
and always free from insect pests.
To prove that people have faith that
such an occurrence can easily be obvi.
ated, l have only to cite the fact that
many are putting out new trees in the
place of those killed; and also, that
they are preparing to drain the ground
thoroughly during the rainy season.
In walnut growing, as well as in other
kinds of work, the object to be attained
is liberal supply of coin, and it has
been our observation for the last three
years. that in no other way can such
desideratum be more surely and success
fully reached than by walnut raising.
The conditions for successful walnut
culture seem better and are better in
Los Nietos valley than in any other por-
tion of the State. With our rich allu-
vial soil, our abundant rainfall and ex-
cellent facilities for irrigation, our pro-
tection by mountains and foothills from
the hot desert winds, with the sea breeze
the temperature of our sum
mer and autumn days, we have all the
natural advantages that we could de-
sire.
The area of walnut groves now in
bearing is not large, but within the past
five years enough walnuts have been
planted to more than quadruple the
present yield.
There is still some land in Ranchito
suitable for walnut culture, most of
which will be planted during the COM
ing year; also a considerable number Of
acres in Old Los Nietos, under the Los
Nietos irrigation system, which is also
we'll adapted for the same purpose, and
we venture the prediction that but few
years will pass ere that will be consid-
cred the finest section in the United
States for this industry.
Mr.. Byron o. Clark, of Pasadena,
made some remarks on walnut culture.
Mr.. Davis. of Downey, stated that
walnuts could be successfully grown
without irrigation. Had experimental
by wrapping the tree aud limbs with
gauze to keep the sun from scorching
them while young, and no tree had
failed to live. Was satisfied that those
who were irrigating walnuts in this val.
ley were making a sad mistake; that
there was abundant moisture in the
soil to make them grow.
Mr.. Stewart had planted walnuts be-
tween rows of figs and thought that
both grew better without irrigation. The
trees had all grown and the time had
come when he must decide between figs
and walnuts and he had resolved to
take out the walnuts
The President wanted expressions on
the best culture of the walnut, subject
ably presented by Mr.. Willis.
Mr.. Carey thought we'll of the wal
nut, and provoked much laughter by wit
ty sallies. He said nothing could be
more popular than the walnut unless it
be an alfalfa tree. Thought walnuts plant
ed from nursery stock bear earlier by
several years than those produced by
planting the nut where the tree should
grow, as by tapping the tap root to re-
plant the tree was obliged to throw out