The herald., 1895-01-01
TONS OF ENGLISH WALNUTS.
An Industry That Is Attaining
Vast Proportions.
The Crop Last Season Was Crafty
ing to the Growers.
what walnut Land IL Worth and How
the Crop IL Raised and Treatsd-A
Profitable Invoatmant.


ditions that arc not easily combined.
A walnut tree may grow most luxurious.
ly and yot ths owner may look in vein
for q single nut ON its branches. But
when q grower has the land adapted to
the raising Of walnuts he has a vsritabls
bonanza.
1t requires but little money to take
care OF q ranch and the returns are
larger than from any other fruit or
chhrd.
WHAT 10 REQUIRED.
The land should be rich and deep and
the climate such as found in certain por-
tons Of the southern coast counties,
where the summer months are cool and
somewhat foggy and whore winters are
mild. Continued hot weather is fatal
to the walnut and it is uselesn to look
for satisfactory results in walnut culture
in the hot valleys Of the interior or on
the mountain slopes away from the
fogs. The trees may make rapid
growth, but the yield will not be satis.
factory.
Experiments have been made in diff.
ferent parts of 'the state. but in only
few sections of Southern California have
they been successful. The greatest re-
suits have been obtained where the soil
is heavy and leamy and where water can
be found at from 10 to 16 fest below the
surface. The tgcea can only live in O
damp atmosphere, during the Summer
and in fog belt. Heavy frosts affect
the treea and result in crop failure.
VALUE OF LAND AND CROPS.
But little good walnut land is for nsle.
As commercial proposition q walnut
ranch brings larger returns Oh the in-
vegtment and requires less caro- than in
other agricultural pursnita.
A good average is considered one ton
of walnuts to the acre of full bearing
treea, realizing $3.50 per acre. Gsnerally
20 trees are planted to the acre, each
producing 100 pounds. Unimproved
land is held at from $500 to $400 pol
acre, while land with full bearing trses
10 velued at from $1,000 to $1,000 pei
acre, if any could be bought at that
price. After having been planted five
or ak years the trees commence tr
bring returns. but it requires from II 81
IA vanrs befors trsea become full
bearing.
Some orchards in Southern California
have been irrigated, but experience hat
shown that the trese prosper to a
greater exta1t where the soil 10 suf
ticientiv damp to provide tho necessary
moisture. Once planted, the trees re-
auirs no cultivation or care. except the
trimming after the crop has beer
gathered.
On an orchard OF 40 acres only $25(
will pay for the care, except for harvest
ing the crop. for which the grower payi
30 cents per 100 pounds ior picking
TREATMENT OF THE CROP.
The walnuis when picksd are put intc
sacks of about 100 pounds each. and ar
fast as filed the sacks are hauled to 9
suitable place aud tho nute emptied and
epread cut on large traya with elat bot
toms, where they ore allowed to remain
till perfectly dry. ueually about four or
five days.
During this time they are OCCASION
ally stirred about with q rske, which
rattles off any dirt or fibre still adher.
ing to thesheils. Then they are sprinkled
literally with water preparatory to
sulphur-the Hulphnr having better
effect when thet nuts are damp. For
this process sulphur psne OF rough
boards are constructed and the nuts are
stacked up in lath- bottomsd boxes while
wet, then O small fire is kindled bs'
meath upon which about two handiuls
of sulphur are thrown, when the pen is
closed up aud the nuts left exposed to
the fumes from 30 minutes to an hour,
when they are taken cut clean and
white.
is SULPHUR INJURIoUSf
The question ss to whether or moi
sulphur is injurious to the walnut has
caused considerable discussion and has
not been definitely decided. Some
growers claim that the natural flavor oi
the nut 10 i'm paired by sulphuring, " lille
othera contend that the flavor is not al
fected, but that the nuts are enhsnced.
The diversity of opinion in this respect
however, may be due to the different
methods used in the process.
It ia further claimed that when nuts
are rancid or spoiled, it is not from the
sulphur, but from the admission OF air
and water. A nut that has been wet
and ia then exposed to the sun, will
crack and water and dirt 10 admitted
consequently it spoils.
After sulphuring the nuts are run
through graders made for the purpose
with inch meshes, which divide the
nuts into two sizes. As they run
through the graders they fall in sacks
that are sewed up "a fast filled, and aftel
being marked with the grade, are ready
for shipment The sacks usually hold
from lU0 to ITO pounds.
THIS SEASONS CROP.
The Los Nietos and Ranchito Walnu
Growers' association, with hesdqusrtsrI
at Rivera, consists Of a membership o
1913 growers, or 98 per cent OF the wal.
nut growers of the district within {
radius OF three miles of Rivera
Through the agency of the or
ganization, the growers are en-
sbled to dispose of their crops tt
greater advantage and receive lsrgel
and quicker returns than by handling
the crops individually. A similar or
ganizstion is in existence in Fullerton
comprising the walnut growers of Full
lsrton, Santa Ana, Anahsim and Oapis.
trsno. In addition to these two dis
tricts, walnuts are successfully raised ir
Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
The price realized for Sslnuts ranger
from 61a to 8 cents ger pound, delivered
on board the care.
The crop for l4at season Of the entire
Southern California is estimated at 25t
carloads OF Is, 100 pounds each. OF this
The Rivera district contributed 81 1897
bags. Weighing 2,27l,972 pounds. II
n h trSt N n