Results of 1950 Persian Walnut Contest
| Prize | Entry | Submitted By | Nut Weight | Kernel Weight | Kernel Percentage |
| 1. | 030 | Mrs. W. H. Metcalfe, Webster, New York | 11.9 | 6.5 | 54.5 |
| 2. | 011 | (Hansen) S. Shessler, Genoa, Ohio | .8 | 5.8 | 58.5 |
| 3. | 002 | (McKinster) Roy McKinster, Columbus, Ohio | 12.5 | 6.4 | 51.2 |
| 4. | 012 | (Jacobs) S. Shessler, Genoa, Ohio | 12.9 | 6.0 | 47.0 |
| 5. | 006 | Lewis Weng, Dayton, Ohio | 12.4 | 6.4 | 51.9 |
| Honorable Mention | |||||
| 001 | Mrs. Gale Harrison, Pemberton, New Jersey | 14.7 | 6.2 | 42.2 | |
| 008 | A. C. Orth, Dayton, Ohio | 14.7 | 6.7 | 45.8 | |
| 014 (Burtner) | Fayette Etter, Lemasters, Pennsylvania | 10.4 | 4.6 | 44.4 | |
| 016 (S-66) | G. L. Smith, Millerton, New York | 15.1 | 6.8 | 44.9 | |
| 025 | P. F. Countryman, Ontario, | 13.9 | 6.3 | 45.3 | |
| 031 (Colby[19]) | A. S. Colby, Urbana, Illinois | 10.8 | 5.9 | 54.1 | |
| 032 (S-M-9) | Royal Oakes, Bluffs, Illinois | 15.8 | 6.6 | 41.5 | |
| 033 | S. Elwell, Homer, Michigan | 19.2 | 8.3 | 43.2 | |
A brief history of the prize-winning trees follows:
Entry 030: A Carpathian originally obtained through the Wisconsin Horticultural Society in 1936 (Rev. Crath's selections). In 1950 this tree was 14 years old, 22 feet high, with a trunk circumference of 23 inches. It has withstood 18 degrees below zero without damage. The tree began bearing a few nuts in 1947, 4 quarts in 1948; 1 peck in 1949; and 1/2 bushel in 1950.
Entry 011: This is the Hansen variety which was given second place in the 1949 contest. The origin of this tree is uncertain. It is estimated to be 50 years old and 25 feet high. It has withstood 15 degrees below zero without damage. Just when this tree began bearing is unknown, but it produced 2 bushels in 1947; 3 pecks in 1948; 1 bushel in 1949; and 3 bushels in 1950.
Entry 002: This is the McKinster variety which was judged the best entry in the 1949 contest. It is a Carpathian originally obtained through the Wisconsin Horticultural Society in 1939 (Rev. Crath's selections), and was 11 years old in 1950. It is 29 feet high with a circumference of 22 inches. It has withstood 17 degrees below zero without injury. This tree began bearing in 1943. In 1947 it produced 1/2 bushel; 1 bushel in 1948; 3 pecks in 1949; and 3 pecks in 1950.
Entry 012: This is the Jacobs variety which placed third in the 1949 contest. The nut which produced this tree originally came from Germany some 70 years ago. It has withstood 15 degrees below zero without injury. This is a large tree which has been bearing since 1915. It produced 300 pounds in 1947; 100 pounds in 1948; 200 pounds in 1949; and 200 pounds in 1950.
Entry 006: A Carpathian originally obtained through the Wisconsin Horticultural Society in 1936 (Rev. Crath's selections). In 1950 it was 14 years old, 25 feet high, with a circumference of 30 inches. It has withstood 10 degrees below zero without injury. This tree began bearing in 1949; in 1950 it produced 15 pounds of nuts.
It should be emphasized that this contest was based entirely on nut characteristics. In another year the placing of the same entries might be considerably different, because of seasonal variation. However, it is significant that the McKinster, Hansen, and Jacob varieties which were among the prize-winners in the 1949 contest were also among the prize-winners in 1950.
Contests such as this are valuable as a first step in the selection and development of improved varieties. The prize-winners and those given honorable mention are all very promising hardy Persian walnuts. The next step will be to test these selections to determine their adaptability to our varying conditions.