610 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DENDRO CHEMISTRY. 



J. B. Weems, Ames, Iowa. 



The destruction of our forests for the purpose of private gain, with no 

 consideration given to the future, is one of the ways by which the selfish- 

 ness of man presents to the coming generations problems of great im- 

 portance an such as must be solved for the world's welfare. To care for 

 and improve the condition of our forests and the development of a gen- 

 eral interest in the planting of trees will result not only in wealth to our 

 country, but the interests in the beautiful will be of inestimable benefit 

 to the world. 



The application of chemistry to this field of human industry is realized 

 at once as a vast study. Dendro chemistry in its field touches almost 

 every branch of chemistry. Beginning with the seed of trees, there are 

 in this connection two interesting features of Dendro chemistry; the 

 chemistry of germination and the value of the nuts for food. The nut 

 has been regarded as a relish and little attention has been given co it as 

 a food product. We have imported nuts from other countries and given 

 little or no attention to the home grown product. Nuts have been used for 

 desserts and in other ways that overtax the digestive system, thus re- 

 sulting in a general opinion that they are indigestible. With care in 

 thorough mastication and if eaten at the proper time, there is no doubt 

 that our common nuts may prove to be a valuable addition to our palatable 

 foods. In this connection it may be of interest to compare the composi- 

 tion* of some of our common nuts with other foods. 



AMOUNTS OF NUTRIENTS FURNISHED FOR TEN CENTS IN NUTS AT 

 ORDINARY PRICES. 



NUTS AS PURCHASED. 



TEN CENTS WILL PAY FOR 



Almonds 



Brazil nuts. .. 



Filberts 



Pecans 



Hickorynutsi 



Walnuts 



Chestnuts} 



Peanuts^ 



Peanut 1 1 

 Wheat flour . . . 



Lbs. 

 .21 

 .38 

 .30 

 .32 

 .40 

 27 

 !<52 

 .89 

 .44 

 2.88 



Lbs. 

 .05 

 .07 

 •05 

 .04 

 .07 

 .05 

 .07 

 .28 

 .14 

 .43 



Calories. 



675 

 1370 

 1055 

 1140 

 1405 



925 

 1340 

 2645 

 1320 

 5450 



* Maine Experiment Station Bulletin 54. p. 91. 



+ At lOcts. per quart, 488 grams. 



J At 5 cts. per quart, 270 grams. 



$ At 5 cts. per quart, 22 pounds per bushel. 



|| At 10 cts. per quart. 



