The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1910-07-13
CULTUREOF WALNUT
Tree Requires Deep. Rich Loan,
or Even Adobe Soil.
Quantity Of Water to Be Used In irri-
cation MIST Be Determined
Upon by Experiences and
Observation.


The English walnut. like other
kinds Of plant life. thrives best where
all the conditions are favorable. Not
every kind of soil and climate is suit
able for the growing of walnuts.
The walnut requires a deep. rich
loan, or even adobe soil, free from
hardpan or standing water within
reach o. the roots: on the other hand
1t will not flourish on the mesa with
out water. although 1t might continue
to linger along on the winter rains
for many years.
On rich. heavy soil the trees should
be planted IS to 80 feet apart. but on
lighter soil they may be thinned out
for a permanent stand. Sometimes.
however. they are planted closer In
quincunx form, with the idea OF ia
king out the intervening trees. as soon
as they become crowded. and leaving
the permanent ones SO feet apart
The nursery stock may be one. two
or three years old when transplanted
to the orchard. but the yearlings will
soon catch up to the others. and Will
be less liable to have unsound or de
fective roots. The price OF good seed
lings generally ranges from ten cents
to 30 cents apiece. while that OF graft
ed stock rarges from so cents to $1-25.
or at the rate OF ten cents per foot in
height.
One blowing a year is SUFFICIENT.
unless the ground becomes packed
afterwar by heavy rains or irriga-
ton. in which case it may be loosened
up with the pillow or cultivator-
whichever will accomplish the work
best-provided there is no vegetation
turned under by the first blowing to
interfere with the second During
the late spring or early summer the
soil should be loosened up depth
OF five or six inches and cultivated
until a fine mulch is formed to that
depth. This may be done with any
implement that will accomplish the
work: a spring-toothed cultivator or
disk harrow is IS good as anything.
Neither the blowing nor the cultiva-
ting should be done when the soil is
wet enough to pack like nodded
brick; but when II has become suf-
ficiently dry to be friable. and before
1t has had time to bake. II should
be broken up and pulverized as above
Indicated. When thus pulverized the
soil will retain the moisture. and.
with an occasional surface cultiva-
ton or narrowing to prevent pores
for the escape of moisture being
formed. will carry the trees through
the summer in good condition.
The quantity Of water to be used
In irrigating the trees. the number
OF times to be applied during the
year. and the best time OF the year to
make the application are questions
that every irrigator will have to de-
! termine for himself by experience
and observation. There is more or
less variation In the seasons and DIFF
ferent kinds OF soil require different
kinds OF treatment. As general
rule no more irrigation. either in
quantity Of water or In times OF ap-
plication. should be done than is nee
essary to keep the trees in a thrifty
condition. Much more than enough
would increase the expense unneces-
sarily and injure the trees and sell
Extremes of wet and dry should be
avoided. SO as to keep the dampness
of the soil as nearly uniform as pos
sible. On good walnut land one or
two irrigations will be sufficient. and
the second one should be omitted II IT
Is not needed. Probably late spring
or early summer. before the orchard
Is laid by for the season. is the best
time TO irrigate walnuts. Late sum-
mer irrigation should be avoided. un-
less absolutely necessary to keep the
trees from suffering.