Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-11-19
WALNUT AREA
HUNDREDS OF ACRES PLANTED
TO TREES IN POLK.
Framquette and Mayette Predominate
and Quality Produced Is Consid-
cred Par Excellence.

EuSllou WdIuuU CuiIuIe III VII
county is no longer an experiment
several groves having matured in ex
cellent condition and are producing
in abundant yields, fine quality O
walnuts for an eager market. But th'
larger number of groves are imma
ture, a majority of them having beer
planted four or five years since. Tht
greatest area devoted to walnut cul
ture is that near Monmouth, planted
by Charles Ireland and now owned
and controlled by company knowr
as the Monmouth Walnut tracts, ant
containing approximately 200 acres
This tract has been sub-divided ant
sold to various parties, who are rear
ing the trees with the greatest Of
care in the hope of developing remu
nerative propositions. j. B. Stump
of the same place has grove of bear
ing trees, as has also Ira Powell. H
L. Crider has quite large tract OF
four or five-year-old trees east OF
town. While these trees are matur-
ing Mr.. Crider expects to reap a har-
vest Of prunes from the same ground
he having planted these fruit trees as
filters. Near by is thirty acres plant
ed to English walnut trees, known as
the E. A. Thompson tract, which Mr..
Thompson recently traded to Mr.
Hammel of Albany in deal for stock
in Hotel Albany. Since coming into
possession of this grove Mr.. Hammel
has sold off ten acres to Mr.. Dietz,
who is looking after its progress very
carefully. On the old Ewing place,
near Polk Station, William Light has
fifteen acres of bearing trees which
are producing somewhere around 700
to 900 pounds per annum, and ad-
joining is DR.. Mark Hayter's young
grove of twelve acres. Probably the
largest grove in the county outside of
the sub-divided tract located near Mon
mouth is that of HI. C. Eakin at Rick
reall, where that grower has fifty
acres of trees five and six years old,
some of which are bearing to some
extent. There are others in the coun-
ty who have smaller groves, and all
are of the opinion that eventually
Polk county will be a central point in
Oregon for these appreciated nuts.
From single full-bearing tree it
is not uncommon to harvest several
bushels of NUTS, and when it is con-
sidered that they sell at from 16 to
20 cents per pound English walnut
raising must appeal as being atrac-
tive from financial standpoint. Time
was in the Willamette valley when
walnut culture was deemed expert
mental by reason of the excessive
rainfall and the general humidity on
account of the prevailing heavy fogs,
but these theories have long since
been exploded, and some of the mar
kets' choicest nuts now comes from
this territory. Those who understand
the conditions necessary to English
walnut production, and who are ia
miliar with climatic conditions of
Polk county, will Immediately say
that raising the nuts here successful
ly has never been an experiment, but
that the results in every case have
proven satisfactory. Those who have
undertaken ii find that there is no
causes to prevent production
of perfect walnuts.
The Franquette is the chief variety
tried here, although there are trees
of the Mayette variety. The quality
in each case is par excellence. Those
who have been watching these trees
with some interest declare that they
prove that the English walnut may
become a very valuable crop here. A
nut grove is much less troublesome
than an orchard of any kind; much
less liable to harm from radical
weather conditions or ravage by
pests; much more hardy than most
fruit trees and its product finds
much more steady and ready market.
No losses are sustained in shipment; +;
the rates are cheaper because less ex-
pensive provision is necessary and
much less loss attends the harvest of
he crop. The nuts are easily grad
ID and handled. The Observer pre-
licts that the English walnut produc-
ion will have a place in commercial
'eports in the future not far distant
md that the owners of groves will be
quite as partial to them as they may
,e of any other tree crop they may
undertake to produce here for profit.
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