INTRODUCTION. 11 



sibly find any kinds better adapted for this purpose than 

 chestnut, walnut and hickory ; and these will give just as 

 dense a shade, and look as well besides, in a few years 

 they may yield enough to pay the taxes on the entire 

 farm, the crop increasing in amount and value not only 

 during the lifetime of the planter, but that of many 

 generations of his descendants. 



This appeal to the good sense of our rural popula- 

 tion is made in all sincerity and with the hope that it 

 will be heeded by every man who has a spark of patriot- 

 ism in his soul, and who dares show it in his labors, and 

 by setting up a few milestones in the form of nut-bear- 

 ing trees along the roadsides if for no other purpose 

 than the present pleasure of anticipating the gratifi- 

 cation such monuments will afford the many who are 

 certain to pass along these highways years hence. 



It is surely not good policy to enrich other nations 

 at the expense of our own people, as we are now doing 

 in sending millions of dollars annually to foreign coun- 

 tries in payment for such luxuries as edible nuts that 

 could be readily and profitably produced at home. There 

 need be no fear of an overproduction of such things, no 

 matter how many may engage in their cultivation, be- 

 cause in such industries many will resolve to do, and 

 even make an attempt, but a comparatively small num- 

 ber will reach any marked degree of success. 



