BECK--The Beck is another Michigan variety of black walnut which in many respects has compared favorably with the best varieties yet brought to light from any source. The parent tree was called to the attention of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in March, 1929, by Mr. Howard Harris, R. F. D. 7, Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan. It was on a farm then owned by Mr. Daniel Beck, R. F. D. 2, Hamilton, also of Allegan County. It is a double tree standing in an open field some 20 rods back of the barn. Like many other northern varieties of black walnut, the nuts are rather small, ranging in 1930 from 28 to 49 per pound, and having an average of 37. In that year it had the high percentage of quarter kernels of 25.36, and a total percentage of kernel of 33.08. The shell was thinner than that of the average black walnut, the cracking quality very good, and the kernel bright-colored, plump, rich and sweet. The Beck has been successfully grafted in the Bixby nursery at Baldwin, Long Island, and at the E. A. Riehl Farm and Nursery at Godfrey, Illinois; by J. W. Arata, Mishawka, Ind.; by Professor Neilson, and probably by others. It is growing in the government test orchard at Beltsville, Md. BLOSS--The Bloss black walnut was called to the attention of this department in January of 1934 by Mr. Joe Bloss, R. F. D. 2, Box 65, Bristol, Indiana, who at that time forwarded 23 specimen nuts to Washington. These averaged 33 per pound and had a range of from 29 to 36. In the test which followed they yielded 21.05 per cent of quarters and 3.35 per cent of small pieces, making a total of 24.40 per cent of kernel. The cracking quality was very good, the kernel bright, medium sweet, and fairly rich. On the whole this appeared to be a very good nut. Because of the very creditable showing made by these nuts, it is believed that the Bloss should be investigated further. It may prove valuable in the general locality of its origin, and as Bristol is but a few miles below the Michigan state line, it would seem that the variety should be given careful consideration in plantings throughout the milder portions of the northern zone. BRUER--The Bruer black walnut first came to attention in 1926 when Mr. Milo Bruer of East Main Street, Sleepy Eye, Minn., sent specimen nuts to Dr. W. C. Deming, Hartford, Conn., for entry in the contest being conducted that year by the Northern Nut Growers Association. Dr. Deming reported that he found the shell thin, the cracking quality good, the kernel white, plump, medium rich in quality, and of mild, nutty "pecan-like" flavor. Later examination in Washington of 20 specimens of the same crop showed that the nuts averaged 37 per pound. By that time they were dried beyond the most satisfactory point for cracking, and, consequently, in this respect, the quality was medium only. The kernels were then but medium plump. In other respects they appeared to be about as had been observed by Dr. Deming.