HI,
I have no doubt that Walnut oil would be very good for one. I would
question if a great amount would be available.
As a former member of the Northern Nut Growers Association and a former
member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Nut Growers Association I yield
to no one in my admiration for the Walnut family, Black Walnut, Butternut,
Heartnut, Carpathian Walnuts, English Walnuts and the various Hybrids.
Are you aware that a hundred pounds of dried Black Walnuts, of the best
varieties that have been discovered, would be worth about $400.00 if sold in
the little packets in the Super Markets?
Before I sold my place in Ohio and moved South, I had over 100 of those
trees grafted. The problem was that in the area and location where I was
Walnut crops would seldom get by the frostsl--maybe one year in 10.
Early crafsmen would make gunstocks of Black Walnut and finish them by
rubbing the kernels of Butternuts on them for the oil. It made a beautiful
finish.
If I were young and had the prospect of years ahead, I would plant a number
of varieties of Carpathian and English Walnuts, as well as other Walnuts,
and as they grew I would paint the trunks in the fall after the growing
season with white Latex Paiint. Do not use oil based paints as they would
kill the trees. This way the trunks would not warm up as early in the
spring and the chances of a crop produced greatly increased.
The problem with the Walnut family is that they will leaf out, or flush,
after a few days of warm weather in the spring unless held back by something
like reflecting the heat, and if they leaf out too early the buds will be
caught by later frosts or freezes and there will be no nuts.
I believe that the food value produced per square foot of soil could be as
great with the good strains of these nut trees as it could growing anyt hing
else.
I see no point in growing trees just for pretty leaves when the back of the
yard or otherwise waste areas could grow Walnuts and get pretty leaves as
well.
However, they also have problems and need spraying at times for fungus
diseases.
Aren't you thrilled with these little tidbits of information?
Cliff
