CRESCO—The parent tree of the Cresco black walnut stands in a creek bottom, on what is known as the Patterson farm, two miles southwest of Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. It is probably within ten miles of the Minnesota state line. So far as known, with the exception of Bruer (of Minnesota), the latitude of its place of origin is greater than that of any other variety originating west of Chicago. It was discovered by Mr. W. A. Bents, proprietor of Cresco Nurseries, Cresco, Iowa, by whom, in 1929, specimen nuts of the 1928 crop were sent to the late S. W. Snyder, of Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Iowa. Scions of this variety were also sent to Mr. Snyder, by whom it was first grafted in 1929. The Cresco has since been disseminated to a considerable extent and is now growing in a number of widely remote plantings, including those of the E. A. Riehl Farm and Nursery, Godfrey, Ill., and the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Beltsville, Md.
Seventy-three nuts of the 1930 crop examined in Washington averaged 35 per pound and yielded 24.55 per cent of quarter kernels, 4.09 per cent small pieces and 0.73 per cent bad, making a total kernel percentage of 29.18.
The latitude of origin, together with the apparent general merit of the Cresco black walnut, makes this variety appear to be of special promise in the northernmost zone.
EDRAS—This is a particularly promising variety, brought to light by Mr. Gerald W. Adams, of Moorhead, Iowa, in connection with the 1926 Association contest; when it was No. 3 of three entries made by Mr. Adams. (It was No. 1 that was designated by the Association as "Adams" at that time and awarded twelfth prize. This variety received no prize.) The variety was first called "Adams" in his honor, but as a Michigan variety had previously been so designated, the name was changed to Edras, after the first name of Mrs. Adams.
The Edras was rated as being "Outstanding" by the late S. W. Snyder of Iowa (Iowa State Hort. Soc. Ann. Rep. 1924, p. 49). Prof. N. F. Drake, of Fayetteville, Ark., in the Proceedings of the Northern Nut Growers Association (p. 24) for 1930, stated: "I think this variety should be kept in mind, especially for breeding purposes where it is desired to develop a strain with a high percentage of kernel."
In a test of nuts from the 1930 crop, the Department of Agriculture obtained a percentage yield of 20.98 for quarters and a total kernel yield of 34.31. That year, 0.43 per cent of the kernels were found bad, and 12.91 per cent were of small parts. It is not improbable that another test would result in an even higher total yield and appreciable improvement in the yield of quarters.
This variety has been quite widely disseminated. It is known to be growing on the Riehl Farm and Nursery grounds at Godfrey, Ill.; at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Ill.; on the Kellogg Experimental and Demonstration Farm, Augusta, Michigan; on the farm of Mr. Harry W. Weber, Cleves, Ohio; and on the governmental test orchard at Beltsville, Md.
The latitude of Moorhead is somewhat below that of the southern boundary of the northern zone, yet climatic conditions of extreme western Iowa are probably no less severe than those of southern Michigan. For this reason, and because of the excellent rating that this variety has received, it is believed that the Edras should be included in further test plantings of the northernmost zone.
GERMAINE—The Germaine black walnut, named in honor of Mr. John W. Germaine, R. 6, Allegan, Mich., owner of the original tree, was called to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in March of 1929 by Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, also of Allegan, when he forwarded a few specimen nuts of the 1928 crop to Washington. These were found to have very good cracking quality and plump kernels of rich quality and pleasing flavor.
Scions have been placed in the hands of various individuals and agencies. Trees of this variety are now growing at Beltsville, Md., and at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Ill.