The character of the nuts is as variable as the trees themselves, not only in the exterior appearance, but in the character of the meats as well.  The ideal commercial nut should be of medium size, about one and one-eighth to one and one-half inches in diameter, of regular oval form somewhat elongated, with smooth surface, and light brown color, and uniform for these characters.  The cracking quality of the nuts is quite as important as their exterior appearance.  The nuts should be well sealed so they will not crack open in shipping.  The shells should be thin but strong, so the nut may be easily opened and the whole meat taken out intact.  The pellicle surrounding the kernel should be light tan colored or silvery brown with a glossy waxed appearance attractive to look upon.  The meat should be smooth, and plump, averaging 50 per cent or more of the total weight of the nut, and with a mild, pleasant flavor, free from any astringency.

The shells vary all the way from extremely rough and unattractive specimens to the smooth commercial type, as the Placentia, while the color of the meats varies from dark brown to nearly white, and so on through the other characteristics mentioned.

In the selection of varieties the walnut breeder is exceptionally favored by the occurrence of large areas of seedling trees.  According to the 1910 census there were in the neighborhood of one and a quarter million seedling trees growing in California.  With this almost unlimited material for selective use, it seems indeed reasonable that many varieties will be selected in the future which are better adapted to the demands of the industry than some of those now being propagated.  By means of hybridizing methods it is also hoped that some of the desirable unit characters of the varieties now in cultivation may be recombined into more nearly ideal varieties for future generations.  The fact that walnut breeding is necessarily a long-termed, expensive problem has made it rather unattractive to the practical breeders.  Such work will depend largely upon public or specially endowed institutions for its support.

PRUNING THE PERSIAN WALNUT

J. G. RUSH, WEST WILLOW, PA.

Pruning is as old as horticulture itself, but the Persian walnut has escaped this treatment thus far.  Practical experience, however, in growing these trees for fruiting, shows the great importance of systematic pruning.  It is a common occurrence to see a young tree with straggling and irregular growths.  Very frequently we see that growth takes place on part of the tree only, leaving the other part undeveloped, which would throw the tree very much out of balance in course of time.  Pruning should begin early in the life of the young tree and as soon as it leaves the nursery the pruning shears should be in evidence.

There are two important objects in view in proper and systematic pruning.  First is form, with a well balanced head.  Second, to increase productiveness by having more lateral branches properly distributed all over the tree.  As a matter of course productiveness will follow.