Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-01-02
THE WALNUT IDEA.
Willamette Valley Farmers Inter-
ested in Their Culture.

A gentleman OF this CIV, who
has an ahidiny faith in possibili-
ties OF E Iglish walnut culture in
the Willamette Valley, has re-
que>ted that we reprint the fol-
lowing which appeared in the
Oregonian recentlv:
A correspondent writing from
Monmouth, SAYS the farmers OF
that vicinity have become inter-
esled in the matter Of walnut
growing and would like infor-
marion in regard to its culture.
His letter follows:
"WlthIn the past year or SO
much interest has manifested it.
self in this vicinity regarding the
growth aud culture of walnut.
There are some bearing trees
here now, but the source whence
they were procured is not certain.
Quite extensive orchards of these
nuts are being planned, but there
is a lack of information as to the
best time to plant, culture, and,
most Of all, as to the most reliable
place to secure good trees
"Some are planting trees of
the English nuts, while others
say that the only good nuts are
from the trees from France. 1t
is claimed also that the grated
tree is more preferable to the one
grown from the nut itself, as
they are more rugged, etc. This
locality has been visited by men
from California, who are in this
work, and they say without
doubt that the soil and>> general
conditions here are admirable for
this line of work. Several are
considering the advisability of
dividing their farms into small
tracts for the culture of this nut.
"While we hesitate to ask
your valuable space and time,
yet we are sure you will confer a
great favor if you will give a
clear statement of the most re-
liable places to buy, the best va
riety and all additional informa-
ton you may deem of interest.
1t has been suggested that our
Consul in France could be of
great help in this matter.'
Walnut-growing has become
quite an industry in several parts
of Oregon, particularly in the
Willamette Valley, and it is be-
lieved the trees will do as we'll
here as in California. They do
not thrive as we'll east of the Cas-
cades, owing to the cold winters.
There is but little difference, ex-
cept in name, between the En-
glish, French, Italian and Chi
lean walnuts. The best nuts
sold here come from France and
are from grated trees. They
are worth about IS cents pound
three or four times as high as the
ordinary walnut of commerce.
Nuts bought in grocery stores
cannot be counted on to produce
satisfactorily.
w. J. Talraan, of the Port
land Seed Company, who is an
authority on walnut-growing,
says:
'It has now been demonstrated
beyond a doubt that this is the
ideal home of English walnut.
In most every instance where we
find a tree of bearing age it peo-
duces good crops of nuts. Of
course we find nuts of many va
rieties coming from the trees
grown from store nuts, and seed
lings OF de9enerated nuts, but
among them some distinct va
rieties which are known to our
markets, many nuts of good size
and excellent quality. In all
cases they are we'll filled, and the
meat of the most delicious flavor,
proving that all we have to do is
to plant varieties of the right
sort. Many of our most progress
sive farmers and business men
foresee the great future of the
walnut throughout the North
west, hence many trees are being
planted. Many are becoming
rich in California. Why should
we stand back when our country
will produce nuts equal or better