of a permanent perennial,
rather than annual, type of agriculture, with trees, shrubs, vines and
perennial grasses its chief interest. For, no matter what chemistry has
in store for us in the way of plastics for construction and of
synthetics for foods and drugs, the good earth is still our sole source
of supply. The chestnut, the mulberry, persimmon, pawpaw, pecan,
hickory, wild cherry, the grape, the elderberry in fact the whole tribe
of fruits and nuts with flavors found nowhere else on earth--all are
growing along this ancient trail. They offer an infinite variety of
opportunity for exploration and discovery. To work with them gives one a
sense of sharing in the work of creation.

Graft the Persian Walnut High in Michigan

By Gilbert Becker, Climax, Michigan

The rule to plant the Persian walnut where peaches and sweet cherries do
well is a good one; but not infallible and certainly can't be too
closely relied upon here in southwestern Michigan. Since 1933, I have
placed several hundred grafts of the Persian walnut upon black stocks.
Many of these are top worked trees, but there were 68 grafted seedlings
in nursery rows, grafted in 1936. These were planted out two years
later. Some are now about ten feet tall with a well branched head. Of
this lot I have only harvested one ripe nut and that was four years ago.
Two of these same trees were planted near some buildings and shrubbery
at a neighbor's home, and they are now bearing well.

Before going further I must say that Persian walnut trees and peach
trees are quite different. First, the Persian walnut cannot stand having
its female flowers frosted when they are out or nearly so. Second, the
peach can stand frost at, or shortly after, full bloom, and they will
set a bumper crop of peaches. We have had two years of late spring
frosts at the time nut trees were in bloom, and we have had bumper crops
of peaches each year. Apples were badly hit, so many have failed to
bear. Lilac blossoms failed to come out and be showy because of these
severe frosts. However, I know of a peach tree heavily loaded right now
growing between two Persian walnuts that haven't had a single nut either
year, though they have borne nuts previously. Thus, peaches will bear in
frosty springs when Persian walnuts are damaged. Further, good-air
drainage, such as a high hill, with a deep valley below will save the
Persian nut crop in a frosty spring. I have a small Persian walnut
grafted