Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-01-16
ENGLISH WALNUT
CULTURE FOR
IDAHO


trees and bearing large annual Yields
to which California would be proud to
Nay claim-and yet that we don't
herald these facts to convert them to
a tangible industry for Idaho. AS
hard as l am trying to press these
truths yet l am getting advice of a
slleptical nature from old timers who
have not seen any grow here and who
want to be shown. Nothing of any
good can come out of Nazareth to those
living there). Some write that they
have tried growing English walnuts
and failed and cannot believe it pos
sibe that trees are thriving here.
Now, here are some facts; note them
we'll. so that you can give personal
notification and help the cause along.
The following trees are in Boise. The
Edgar Wilson tree at 100 Warm Springs
avenue, bore this season 10 bushels
of choice nuts. The Miller tree. on
Borah street and one block south of
the 0. S. L. r. r. depot, bore about
200 pounds. The Cartee tree, at the
stone cutting yard, bore a heavy crop
which the boys attest to and in 1914
, bore 10 bushels aside from what the
boys got. Also there are many other
places in Boise and along the Boise
and Snake rivers where the trees are
giving good account of themselves.
These are all fine trees with a good
spread and make excellent shade. And
here is some more news: The nuts
grown in Idaho have a thinner shell
than those grown in the hot interior
valleys of California and are full of
meat of high flavor.
l have had some very interesting
questions put to me through CORE
spondence this week as a result of
last weeks talk and my offer to give
information to those desiring it. Here
are some of the questions asked: Some
write that the trees grow well in sum-
mer but the tops winter kill and in
spring a new growth starts at the
base of the injured part; that this
grows well and during the season is
again winter killed. Another writes:
81 have planted several trees and some
of them live and some die, while others
are half dead" Another wants to
know what soil is best and how deep
it must be and whether blasting is
necessary. Should the trees be planted
by irrigation bitches? DO they re-
qure much water? How late should
they be irrigated? Is the hardpan in
furious to the trees? Some state that
they have grown trees that bear large
fine nuts every year but that the tops
of the trees often winter-kill. An
other says: Il have large trees that
kill back every year and don't bear
any nuts, yet there are Immediately
joining them very large black walnut
trees that are never injured by frost
and bear great yields of large nuts
annually" Others say that they have
planted in the lawns and failed but
when planted in the garden the trees
do we'll Some want to know the
limit of altitude for the walnut and
the lowest degree of cold that the tree
will stand. Some want to know if the
walnut grown here is equal to the
California nut in quality, size and
yield and also in the size of the tree
Others desire to know the cost of
production. size of tree to plant, the
distance apart and whether filters like
prune trees can be planted between
Another asks, will it be advisable to
take out every third peach or prune
tree--in the line row-and plant nut
trees 40 to 60 feet apart in the al
ready established orchard, the latter
70 act as filters One says, "Old
peach trees not doing we'll. shall
plant the nut trees among the peach
trees p do they make fine shade ano
ornamental trees ?" Shall | plant a
grove of them?" "How would they dc
for school grounds" why do the
eastern grown trees planted here grow
so slowly" when is the proper time
to plant?" "Shall I plant older trees
shall / plant to city lot?'
The above are some of the question:
asked and have answered all by per
sonal letter so as to help them to grow
these valuable trees under their loca
conditions. To answer these letters
has taken lot of time, but what of /
il we can learn what the chief trou
bles are and get the industry started
right? one party asks: How can yoi
afford to pay for such space in adVer
Using to educate the public? The,
don't appreciate it and it never pay
and you will lose money. My answe
to this is that | am risking it be
cause I believe that many will be gia
to know the facts as to why they haV
failed ard how they can succeed i
the growing of tho most valuable tire
in Idaho for both profit and utility
California and Oregon experienced tn
same troubles at the beginning of tn
industry but let us start right Jus
figure the possibilities for yoursel
from the records of these trees grow
ing in Boise with $50 pounds per tire
at 10 cents per pound and 81 trees
the acre at 40 feet apart. II is Ger
tainly worth your while to conside
the tremendous money producing pos
siblities of an acre of such walnu
trees and especially with the yield
increasing as the trees grow older
and let me add that for many sea
sons prune or other trees should b
planned for as filters. Let me quot
you my special price on the right kin
of English walnut trees grated on tn
RIGHT kind of root and the variety