Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-07
RAISING W.iLYUTs From SEED.
The English Walnut Grown from Nuts
Imported from Europe--They sprouted
This Winter.

Imported from Europe--They Sprouted
This Winter.
Editor Gazette: Will you allow
me space in your valuable paper to talk
on subject which is not political, and
which has nothing to do with the Will
son Tariff bill, nor with the Hawaii
question:
First week in November last / accom-
panied friend to the wine shop of
William Alsentzer, on King street, to
take glass of the new seasons red
wine. In passing may say that make
no apology for referring openly to this
part of the incident of which desire to
speak. l was not feeling well at the
time and from former experiences of
the good vintagc's effect l went there to
be doctored again.
Besides j remember my early teach
ing, from | Timothy, V, %, when ST.
Paul affectionately advised his young
friend ana follower, Timothy, who also
was suffering from some slight transient
complaint, possibly similar to mine, to
drink no longer water, but use little
wine for thy stomach's sake and thine
oft intirmities."
That was what was the matter with
me and took the great doctors advice
and got well.
But this is not the point | wish to talk
about. 1t is that while we were quatf-
ing the pure Rhine wine, the attendant
went to large barrel that stood at one
side of the room, and breaking the head
of it off, took from it large double
handful of fine walnuts.
They were of the kind known here as
English walnuts. The shells, however,
had not their bright clear brown color.
They were dark and apparently covered
with black earth mold, to such degree
that the corrugations so marked in the
English nut, as we commonly know it,
were hardly noticeable The nut, how
ever, was Just as large, and equally
sweet tasted. There was some discus
sion over the different species of the
walnut and also of the walnut tree.
A gentleman present remarked that
one of Wilmington's most noted botau-
lists has made the assertion that the i'm
| ported walnut will not grow in this
country. therefore made up my mind
to test the assertion. have been very
successful in sprouting from the i'm
ported seed various specimens of the
foreign vegetable kingdom, also those
hitherto supposed not indigenous to
| Delaware soil.
For this purpose obtained five selec-
tions of walnuts from Mr.. Alsentzer. l
watched his son taking the nuts from
the barrel. The latter had all the local
and foreign marks of duty importation.
The walnuts came, if l remember rightly,
from Aschenheim, the place where MIR.
Alsentzer's parents and grandparents
live, and from which place the yearly
vintage of red and white wine is sent
here to Wilmington.
The five selected nuts were handed
me. | then got Mr.. Alsentzer's son to
strip the shells from two of them. This
was done carefully, so as not to injure
the albuminous matter. With the three
others dealt as follows: The pointed
end of one of the nuts was slightly
opened; the blunt end of the second
was opened to the same extent; and
number three was not opened at all,
Then l took the five samples of wal
nuts home and planted them in jar
diniere which, l have in my bed room.
1t is of the ordinary size, about 8 inches
across and Of an equal height might
add that the pot already held too young
orange trees, about 10 inches high, that
had raised from seed planted last Au-
gust. The walnuts were planted on
November 7th last. The exact spot
where eaclt seed was placed was marked.
On Thanksgiving Day my walnuts COM
menced sprouting.
This success in growing the foreign
walnut is what desired to tell you Of,
and in addition to state the detail of the
manner OF the sowing the seed. 1t is
disposition as conclusive and scientific
as need be of the assertion that the i'm
ported walnut seed cannot be grown
here. To be sure, in this case the seed
was sprouted in tho warm temperature
of bedroom, but the proof is shown
that the terminating powers of the i'm
ported seed are not dead. That, as ]
take it, was the problem to be unravelled
l suppose then, walnut trees may readily
be grown here, simply by planting the
seed. 1t is the most valuable of all
timbers. Now, as it has been demon
strated that it can be propagated so
easily, some OF the farmers OF the State
may be induced to plant the seed.
Yours respectfully,
JUeLANs REGIA.
WIINTNGTON nEJ Dpc a