een most thoroughly demonstrated in our walnut orchard
this, the driest year in the memory of old settlers in the Valley.

"When the growth of our apple, cherry and peach trees ceased
because of the dry weather, our walnuts kept on growing as if
supplied by continuous rains. It is true that liberal cultivation
through the dry season will materially aid the growth of all kinds
of trees not having a tap root and is indispensable to the growth
of young walnut trees, trees that have not extended their tap root
down to perpetual moisture.

"Walnut trees, in the opinion of the writer, cease growing upward
when they cease growing downward; that is to say, when rock, shale
or impenetrable hardpan stops the growth of the tap root, the tree
has practically reached its height.

"Therefore, in planting a walnut grove, borings should be made to
test the depth of the soil and character of the subsoil.

"Unquestionably the best variety for this climate is the Franquette
and next the Mayette.

"Grafted trees are to be preferred to seedlings. Grafted trees bear
much sooner and the fruit is more uniform in size, though a
seedling that has attained the bearing age will produce as much
fruit as a grafted tree of the same age; this we have occasion to
observe from comparisons in our own orchard.

"We have trees 14 years old that bore 100 pounds at the age of 12
years and the product sold for 25c a pound for planting purposes.

"Those who had the misfortune to have the tender shoots of their
walnut trees killed by the unusual frost early last May, should not
be discouraged. Just examine the limbs now and you will find that
three or four more shoots grew out where the one was killed. This
makes more fruit buds for next year and the shortage of crop this
year will be more than made up next.

"The writer believes that walnut growing will prove to be the most
profitable industry in the Willamette Valley.

"WM. M. REECE."

It seems to be a characteristic of the walnut and hickory, and possibly
other nut trees, to send down a tap root deep into the earth to draw up
the distilled and purified moisture that has been refined and sweetened
in the lower depths. The older boys of the Middle Western states can
recall the time when they wandered through the woods in late winter
time,