Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-02
Growing Royal Hybrid Walnut. in California
BY r. K. SMITH

environment, causing a breaking UP D.
the original species, but further stud.
has brought US to believe, that these
are really hybrids. We are led t
this opinion from the fact that the
percentage of these unusual tree.
varies from year to year and tina,
nigyd trees there are always some
typical Of the species, and some year.
great many. Moreover. the progeny
Of certain trees are almost all straigh,
nigyo and the proportion of such nor
NAL seedlings is in inverse ratio to the
opportunities for crossing with otheI
walnut species.
Juglnss nigga was planted quite COM
monty with eastern nuts in California
in the very earliest years of tho Ameri-
can occupation. Thus there are many
large trees Of the species now growing
in the State. The trees are in almost
every instance closely associated with
specimens Of both California species
and also more or less with the English
walnuts. Many nuts from these original
trees have been planted, and again
those from the next generation, down
to three or four or perhaps more gen.
erations. The result has been that
about the older towns in the central
and northern part of the State, trees
may be found which present every de-
gree of graduation between nigrd and
the California species and also many
trees which have only slight resem-
blance to either, but might easily be
classed as entirely new species If their
origin was not known. It is hardly
worth while to describe the individual
trees Of this sort, SO numerous are
they in the State. In some cases it is
difficult or impossible to distinguish
between hybrids and true nigya, rs the
nuts and foliage are very similar. Most
of them. however, can be pretty Ger
tainly picked out on account Of their
unusual vigor OF growth. the fact that
they come out earlier and hold their
foliage later than true nsgyd, q Diff
ferent aspect of the tree and foliage
which cannot be definitely described.
and the fact that the nuts are some
what smoother and vary in other ways
from those of true nigra, although var
ious trees Of the latter species have
nuts Of very different form and size.
lHc INOyoi Aly OIAN II SSIy OAAcICuI
from the Paradox in regard to pro-
ductiveness. being in almost every in
stance very precocious and IN I'M
usually heavy bearer Of nuts. The most
productive nut trees which we have
ever seen are some Of these Royal hy-
bird walnuts. In favorable seasons the
ground beneath them will be covered
several deep with nuts, while there are
still so many on the tree that 1t ID
difficult to see whe.e there could have
been room for those which are upon
the ground.
The cross between nieyo and the nor
thern California species is commonly
illustrated in all the towns above men
toned. The Burbank Royal is an un-
usually fine tree, being Of tall. erect
growth, with q clean, uniform trunk,
and OF exceptionally vigorous and
rapid development. 1t is a heavy
bearer of very large nuts Of q type
more closely resembling those Of niero
than those of the California species.
The nuts. in fact, would pass for
fine large type of nieyo, but are
smoother than those of the usual type.
They are deeply and much grooved,
but not ridged to any extent.
There are other hybrid trees et