to
become one of the fittest survivers.

One of the most important developments during the past year is of very
recent occurrence. It is the fact that the 1933 season is opening with
the highest prices received during the last two years. This may in part
be due to reports that the outlook in the Tennessee--Kentucky--Virginia
and North Carolina district is for a light crop. According to Baltimore
merchants who have recently been consulted, consumption last year was
the greatest in history and, while prices reached the lowest level since
the depression began, relatively speaking, the total drop has probably
not been as great as for other food products during the same period.
These merchants look forward with confidence to a continuance of
increased consumption.

This forecast is encouraging, but it is based on the assumption that
there will be continued improvement in the manner of handling and
packing the kernels for delivery. At present, considerable overhead is
usually charged back to the farmers because of labor involved in
cleaning, grading, and sometimes curing, after the kernels reach the
city merchants. This handling is necessary with much of the output in
order that it may be made acceptable to the manufacturers. One of the
most desirable characteristics in connection with the sale of black
walnut kernels is brightness of color. This is a matter largely due to
the manner of handling during the process of harvesting, curing, and
cracking. Once the kernels become dark, they cannot be brightened except
by bleaching and removing the pellicles. However, the importance of
prompt gathering as soon as the nuts fall from the trees, removing the
hulls, and curing the nuts cannot be overestimated. These are matters
easily within the ability of the producers to adjust.

The Orchard Industry

On the orchard side of the industry, several developments may be listed,
although the majority are merely old developments newly emphasized.

Black walnut trees, seedlings and grafted trees alike tend to bear full
crops not oftener than during alternate years, and with conditions at
all unfavorable, full crops may be delayed for several years.

Grafted trees of many varieties begin to bear their first fruits quite
as promptly as with apples. Not infrequently walnuts appear by the end
of the second year after grafting. This is especially true with
top-worked trees.

Recent Adverse Weather Conditions

The spring and summer s