4 THE NUT CULTURIST. 



just as beautiful as, and in many instances much superior 

 to those yielding nothing in the way of food except, per- 

 haps, something for noxious insects. 



I am not attempting to pose as the one wise man 

 engaged in rural affairs, but am merely recounting my per- 

 sonal observation and experience, having in my younger 

 days taken the advice of my elders, and at a time when 

 a hint of the future value of nut trees would have been 

 worth more than a paid-up life insurance policy. But 

 as the hint was not given, I selected for roadside trees 

 ash, maples, tulip, magnolias, and other popular kinds. 

 all of which thrived, and by the time they were twenty 

 years old began to be admired for their beauty, although 

 their roots were spreading into the adjoining field, rob- 

 bing the soil of the nutriment required for less vigorous- 

 growing plants. Later, however, the discovery was 

 made that I was paying very dearly for a crop of leaves 

 and sentiment, neither of which was salable or avail- 

 able for filling one's purse. When thirty years of age 

 the yery best of my roadside trees were probably worth 

 two dollars each for firewood, or one dollar more than 

 the nurseryman's price at the time of planting. The 

 greater part of these trees, however, have since been cre- 

 mated, a few being left as reminders of the misdirected 

 labors of youth and inexperience. 



In this matter of following a leader in tree-planting 

 along the highways, it appears to be a predominant trait 

 of our rural population and as old as the settlement of 

 this country, for nowhere is it more pronounced than in 

 the New England States, where the American elms 

 attracted the attention of the Pilgrims and their con- 

 temporaries and descendants, and even continued down 

 to the present day. No one will deny that the 

 American elm is a noble tree in appearance, is easily 

 transplanted and of rapid growth, and yet it is one of 

 the most worthless for any economic purpose. It may 



