t
certain varieties when planted in solid blocks failed to set
satisfactory crops. Rather than lose several years of growth and
expense, the better growers top-worked the trees with a good pollinizer.
The result was a profitable harvest of red and yellow apples, or
varieties of different maturity. The peach grower liked the looks of a
very fine peach and after a short trial found that the variety was not
hardy enough to withstand the winter and early spring temperatures. The
experiences of the commercial fruit growers could be well used by the
nut grower. Only trees adapted to local conditions should be planted
regardless of the recommendations of the nurseryman. Hardiness of wood
and bud, ample production of pollen, reasonable climate during the
growing season, and the control of insects or diseases determine, for
the most part, the success of the harvest.

Soils and Fertility

The nut trees require good drainage and a good supply of moisture. A
reasonably fertile soil should be selected for a planting site but
through mulches, manures, and commercial mineral fertilizers any soil
may be built up to a high state of fertility. A weak tree has little
chance and may come into bearing too late to be of value for the present
owner. The annual growth should be checked each year and, unless 10 to
12 inches of growth has been made the previous year, some means of
stimulating more growth should be employed. The hickory, pecan and black
walnut, as a rule, make little new annual growth while the Persian or
Carpathian walnut, heartnut and chestnut ordinarily produce good annual
growth and an abundance of good foliage grown where it counts the most,
on the new wood.

Those who have observed the growth habits of nut trees know that the
catkins are found on last year's growth, or two year old wood, and the
fruiting flowers at the end of the present season's growth. There are
times when the new growth developed in a matter of a few days to
sometimes as long as two weeks. During the period of prolongation of the
new growth and the formation and receptiveness of the pistillate flower
much can happen. The catkins shed pollen when the temperature and
atmospheric conditions are normal. Many times the pollen is dispersed
before the pistillate flowers are formed.

Cross vs Self-Pollination

There is no assurance that a nut tree which fruits on the average of
eight out of ten years will continue to do so in the future.
Occasionally