INTEREST IN NUT GROWING IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN STATES
Reading edition
Dr. L. D. Batchelor, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station
The marked increase in the interest in nut growing throughout the intermountain states is shown by the numerous inquiries on this subject which are directed to this office. There have been very few plantings of commercial orchards, but on every hand there is an interest shown in using nut trees for shade trees. The hardy varieties of Persian walnut are being planted more each year to ascertain the most promising sorts for commercial planting. Larger plantings will no doubt follow when some of these varieties have gained the confidence of the people, for one of the chief drawbacks to nut planting in the past has been the common belief that a semi-tropical climate is essential to the production of such nuts as almonds, pecans and Persian walnuts.
The Utah Agricultural Experiment Station has distributed about one hundred Persian walnut trees to coöperative planters over the state the past season. Ninety-five per cent of the trees are making a thrifty growth, while a similar planting made in 1912 gives good promise.
The following varieties are included in the experimental lot; Chaberte (grafted on black walnut); Franquette (on black and English walnut); Franquette (Vrooman Strain); Mayette (on English Walnut); Parisienne (on the black walnut); Pomeroy (seedling); Pomeroy (on black walnut); Rush (on black walnut).
A number of seedling trees have been discovered by the writer during the past year, throughout the state. Some of these seedlings are producing a fairly good type of commercial nut. What is more important, however, the success of these seedling Persian walnuts points to the practicability of planting the hardier varieties of this nut in the intermountain states.