The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-18
THE ENGLISH WALNUT.

Cultivation OF the English walnut Is
not only one of the newest but one OF
the most rapidly growing industries in
the United States: and OF course the
reason for this is readily traced 10 the
fact that this country IL producing
only about one-half enough Of these
nuts to supply the demand. says Hol-
lister Sage in the National Nurseryndn.
The Persian walnut, commonly called
the English walnut. was named Nut
of the Gods nineteen hundred years
ago by the Romans. and by them was
distributed throughout southern l;u-
rope, where descendants OF those origl-
nal trees are now standing-some of
them more than a thousand years old
lasting monuments to the man who
conquered those countries. In many
places those same trees are producing
"A large part of the total income; in
truth the United States alone Is i'm
porting more than Ave million dollars
worth Of nuts from those trees every
year, and about half a million dollars
! worth of their timber. English walnut
timber is very valuable. having a hand
some grain and being unusually heavy.
so heavy, in fact. that the green wood
used in the manufacture of gun stocks
and furniture, having a greater value
/ than mahogany. Single trees have been
known to sell for more than $4,000.
/ Realizing the importance OF having a
home supply of English walnut trees.
France passed law in 1920 prohibiting
the expectation OF the timber. How well
advised was this move may be appre-
! n afa1 xt-han - I'M he
J United States is importing yearly from
southern France a large percentage OF
our total consumption of $4,000, 900
pounds OF English walnuts.
/ The Romans did not neglect England
| for as a result OF their invasion many
: of these fine trees, hundreds of years
old. are scattered along the roads and
drives in every part OF the islands.
J Some are nearly a hundred feet high
with a spread of more than a hundred
feet and bearing thousands Of nuts for
their owners every year. One tree =
, reported 10 be more than a thousand
years old and to produce more than
100000 nuts n year. being a chief fac
tor in the support OF five families. In
England, by the way, It is customary
to eat the fresh nuts. after the removal
Of the outer skin. with wine, the two
| dainties being served together.
| The Germans. also. were quick 70 dis
cover the great intrinsic value TO their
country OF these trees and very early
formed the habit of planting a young
| English walnut tree to take the place
| OF one which for any reason had been
cut down. The Germans were also said
TO have promulgated In certain local!-
ties a law which required every young
farmer Intent on marriage TO show
proof that he was the father OF q
stated number OF English walnut trees
1t Is believed the first English walnu
tree IN this country was planted by
Roger Morris in 1858 AT what Is nov
known as Washington Heights, New
York city. George Washington mus
have found that tree in 1916. Just on,
hundred years later, Norman Pomero,
OF Lockport. y. Y, the father OF T. {
Pomeroy, OF the English Walnut Farms
found a tree in Philadelphia, possibly
descendant of the orr inal Morris tree
Mr. Pomeroys tree was loaded with al
exceptionally fine variety OF sweet IA
vored nuts, thin shelled and witt
a very full meat. That very tree. wit
Mr.. Pomeroy's help, was the progenito
OF all the English walnut groves Il
western New York. as we'll as OF tn
many fruitful and ornamental tree
now growing in all parts of the Mort
and East.
Experts say there is no good reaso
, why this country should not raise n
least enough English walnuts for on
own needs and even export a few mill
Z on dollars worth. We are no,
t importing more dollars worth of thes
nuts than both Canada and the Unite
States are exporting In apples and thi,
. too, when Canada and the United State
' are known as apple countries.
' California is producing about 1900
' tons a year. That States crop last yea
( would have been more than 10000 ton
! had there not been three days OF OK
. tremely hot weather about tho mdi'
OF September, the thermometer register
. Ing 1l5 degrees In many OF the wunn
5 sections. This torrd period serlousl
= burned about 200 tons of nuts, ye
, tho crop realized more than three an
2 a half million dollars.
? The California growers do not hav
r the frosts to open tho outer ehuCH