Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting — Part 95

ALLEN--The Allen black walnut is another Michigan variety which appears to be of considerable promise. It has been under observation by the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Washington since the summer of 1923, when it was called to the attention by the Honorable Charles W. Garfield of Grand Rapids. The parent is a healthy double tree standing some twenty rods from Thornapple Creek on the farm of Mr. Glenn W. Allen, R. F. D. 1, Middleville, Barry County. The local conditions of soil and moisture are highly favorable. The tree frequently bears heavy crops, although, like most others of the species, it tends more to alternate rather than to annual bearing.

Five pounds of the 1931 crop tested in Washington showed a range of from 31 to 37 nuts per pound and an average of 34. The percentage of quarter kernels was 22.45, that of small parts 1.10, and that of bad, O.31 per cent, making a total kernel yield of 23.86 per cent. The cracking quality was good, the kernels were plump, the quality of the kernel rich and the flavor medium sweet.

The Allen was awarded first prize by Professor Neilson in the Michigan contest of 1929. It should be well worthy of test planting in the northern zone. It has been disseminated to a very considerable extent for use in small plantings.

ALLEY--The Alley is a New York variety from the farm of Miss Amy A. Alley, Lagrangeville, Duchess County. This farm is within fifteen miles of the Connecticut line and some 50 to 75 miles above New York City. The Alley was first brought to attention by Miss Alley in 1918, when she was awarded first prize in the contest for that year of the Northern Nut Growers Association. The late W. G. Bixby, in reporting for the committee in charge, said that the Alley had a shell thinner than that of Stabler and that the cracking quality was "100 per cent."

In none of the tests conducted by the department has this variety ranked with the best of the more recent kinds, yet because of its latitude of origin and the fact that in general merit it is well above the average seedling, it is believed that it should be included in northern trial plantings.

Three pounds of the 1931 crop tested by the department counted 39, 41 and 42 nuts each, respectively. The range was 36 to 45. The percentage yield of quarter kernels was but 13.96, for out of 122 nuts cracked 15, or 12.29 per cent, were bad. The total yield of kernel amounted to 25.57 per cent. The kernels that year were neither particularly plump nor especially well filled.