Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-12
Plant Black Walnut
This II Nest Desirable Tree for the
Wood Lot and Unused Places on
the ra1m-Direction for Planting.

Because Of tho very high lastinl
Qualities OF its wood and the noder
ately rapid rate Of growth OF the re'
in GOOD locations, black walnut Is on
/ OF the few most desirable trees u
plant on the farm. Small patches o.
rough, quilted. or unused land abou
the farm and narrow strips along
fence rows and highways or corners
Of barnyards and stock lots make idea
places for planting this valuable tree
The method ia simple, and the present
heavy crop Of nuts makes this year
Z most favorable time to begin work
along this line. Tho region where
walnut growing is practicable OK.
tends from southern New England
west to the Central States and south
to South Carolina and along the north
ern portions of the Gulf States to
Oklahoma. The finest growth takes
place in the rich coves Of the lower
Appalachians and over the Ohio and
central Mississippi basins.
The black walnut tree Is compare
lively free from insect attack, par
ticuiarly the wood. The price OF
black walnut '.mber in recent years
has been consistently high. Another
factor to be considered is the rapidly
diminishing supply of walnut trees
over practically Its entire range H. the
United States, due to recent cutting in
order to meet the demand for gun
stock material. The tree yields dur
able wood which may be used for posts
and for a wide Tlriety of purposes
about the farm, in case It is not sold
in the lumb market.
To plant the nuts, make Il small
hole with a mattock or hoe, drop one
or tMo nuts in each hole and cover
them with about inches Of fresh,
firmly packed soil. For the larger
areas. a good spacing in forest planta-
lions is 10 dig the holes 5 feet apart
each way or 5 by 10 feet. which
amounts to $50 and $40 holes per acre
for the two spacings. For small areas.
or along fence rows and highways, the
spacing should he about feet in the
roW, rnlcss permanent shade Is de-
si.ed, i'll which case the distance
siiesid re % feet during the early
5leS-saii@s growth and subsequently in
e-aa.e % 30 feet. by removing the
a t:75:..sst.sa trees. For purposes of nut
Hrpadcts0n the trees should be spaced
Al stances Of from 40 to 60 feet apart,
am ahuuld lie given due amount of
cultivation. Requests for information
aaeng this line should be addressed to
The Bureau Of Plant Industry Of the
l'f3artment Of Agriculture at Wash
ifetuil The number of nuts required
.eai' easily be found by knowing ap-
their quality, the area of
ground to be treated, and the spacing.
Care should be taken not to plant
faEler shade. Where the trees in the
so' wood lot are to be cut during the
rfSi Scar or-two and are moderately
ssitsp. planting may be done in the
Wsif.cr, so as to get start in advance
81 the removal later of the overhead
Protection against carly frosts ard ex-
eesslTe drying of the soil in mi. UNI
mer.
While the best results are usual,v
9 OBTAINED by completely prepariny; the
SOIL and cultivating it for few wears
after planting, farm owners Should ba
aware OF the possibility of starting
hundreds Of young walnuts in their
wood lots ard elsewhere at the ex-
pense OF only little labor. This viii
pc good step in the process Of 80
' curing useful and -noney-making trees
IN = parts OF the farm which would per-
Aaps otherwise be waste land. which 10
making no return at all to its on,-.