Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-11-18
PLANTING BLACK WALNUT
ON THE FARM
(By W. r. Nation, Division Of Exten-
sion, University of Tennessee.)


sion, University of Tennessee.)
Because of the very high lasting
qualities of its wood and the moderate
Iy rapid rate of growth of the tree In
good locations, black walnut is one of
the few most desirable trees to plant
on the farm. Small patches of rough,
quilted, or unused land about the farm,
II good soil and not too thin or dry,
make ideal places for planting this
valuable tree. The tree is compare
lively free from insect attack, and the
| probability of the lumber retaining its
| high average value on the market is
another reason for selecting walnut.
| In any event, the tree yields superior
wood for posts and for wide variety
| of uses about the farm.
In order to succeed well, walnut re-
| ouires rather good grade OF soil,
hence no attempt should be made to
| plant it on poor, thin soil, or on hot,
dry exposures In Tennessee a strong
limestone soil even If moderately thin,
| deep alluvial and stony loan soils or
the bottoms and along the margins OF
| the highlands, are favorite situations
| for rapid development. Since the wal
nut tree requires large supply or
| light, 1t may we'll be planted on tracts
| recently cleared of old growth or
| turned out of fields. In this respect 1t
resembles black locust which, how
ever, makes a somewhat faster growth
| but In most localities is more or less
subject to serious attack by a wood
boring BEETLE. A leaf eating tent cat
erpillar does harm sometimes TO the
| walnut foliage, though not serious.
The walnut crop is particularly
heavy this fall, affording a splendid
opportunity to gather seed for plant
ing. Another factor to be considered
is the rapidly diminishing supply OF
walnut trees over practically its en-
tire range in the United States, due
to cutting in order to meet the pres
ent almost worldwide demand for gun
stock material In handling the nuts,
the hest procedure after gathering ts
TO stratify them over winter and then
plant them next spring just about the
time termination begins. In Tennes'
see this is probably between March
LIST and 25th. Squirrels and chtpmunks
are serious pests if present in num-
hers and would more than likely sue
coed I'm digging up majority OF nuts
nlanted out this fall. Small tracts
however. surrounded by cultivated
fields and other places where squirrels
are known to be scarce might safeiS
be planted this fall or early winter
when labor is more accessible than II
the spring.
Planting is done by making a SINAI
hole with mattock or hoe, dropplnt
, two nuts. and covering them Wit
! about 2 inches of fresh soil. A goot
spacing is to dig the holes rect eaci
way. which amounts to 1910 holes PEI
: acre, The number of nuts required
y can be easily found by knowing ap
proximately the area OF ground 70 d
treated and the average spacing Car
!. should be taken not to plant under TO-
heavy shade. Where the trees are u
d be cut during the next year or wv
O and are moderately open, planun
might begin now, so as to get star
in advance of the removal OF the oVe'
head protection against early frost
and excessive drying OF the SOIL I
midsummer. :,
|. While the best results are usuaii
\ obtained by completely preparing tn
! soil and cultivating It for few year
j after planting, the purpose here is !
2 awaken farm owners to the possioillt
of starting hundreds OF young "ainu'
In their woodlots and elsewhere on tn
:. farm at the expense OF only ilt.l
~ labor. This will be a good step IN u
10 process of transforming an almo'
le. worthless Gull woodlot into stand
useful and money making trees. fu
a. ~, Their information in regard to metnot
,. Of storing and planting the nuts al
g. caring for the woodlot will De Iui
m. ished upon application to the ola
~ Feresters OF the various states OF
u. the Forest Service. United states =
o par,meut OF Agriculture at "asn'n
ton. .-.