THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13809, 25 August 1913, Page 6

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

WALNUT GROWING

Mr." Allen, the chief fruit expert of N.S.W., while abroad, is going to make special inquiries into the opportunity for an oversea trade in walnuts from the State. They thrive .remarkably well in quite a number of localities there, and there is no reason why a profitable industry should not bo built up. Last year ovor nine thousand tons of walnuts were produced in California alone, principally in the Santa Barbara and Ventura districts. Many typos of soil are fitted for walnutgrowing, but the tree does best in fairly heavy, deep, well-drained loam, underlaid with heavy subsoil that must bo pervious to moisture. Well-drained clay loam, however, and sandy or even gravelly soils, where plenty of moisture is obtained, should grow the nuts to perfection. In selecting varieties growers should make a point of getting those sorts which resist blight best, high quality of kernel, with a perfect sealing or union between the halves of the shell. .They should also be the early-bearing varieties, and, of course, productive Before planting out, the soil should be thoroughly prepared by deep ploughing and repeated harrowing, and tlio trees should be planted at least 50 feet apart, as they rapidly attain considerable size, and many trees will produce anything up to 5001b. weight of nuts per annum. As compared with citrus trees, walnuts are subject to few diseases, the 'chief of which is blight. This disease, however, does not often occur except in damp, foggy localities, besides which there are varieties which are blight proof. Full-bearing groves, should return the grower in this State anything up to £200 per acre. There is always a good demand for the nuts both in the- Commonwealth and abroad.