PREFACE 



Believing that the time is opportune for making an 

 effort to cultivate all kinds of edible and otherwise use- 

 ful nut-bearing trees and shrubs adapted to the soil and 

 climate of the United States, thereby inaugurating a 

 great, permanent and far-reaching industry, the follow- 

 ing pages have been penned, and with the hope of en- 

 couraging and aiding the farmer to increase his income 

 and enjoyments, without, to any appreciable extent, 

 adding to his expenses or labors. With this idea in 

 mind, I have not advised the general planting of nut 

 orchards on land adapted to the production of grain and 

 other indispensable farm crops, but mainly as roadside 

 trees and where desired for shade, shelter and ornament, 

 being confident that when all such positions are occupied 

 with choice nut-bearing trees, to the exclusion of those 

 yielding nothing of intrinsic value, there will have 

 been added many millions of dollars to the wealth of 

 the country, as well as a vast store of edible and deli- 

 cious food. 



This work has not been written for the edification, 

 or the special approbation, of scientific botanists, but for 

 those who, in the opinion of the writer, are most likely 

 to profit by a treatise of this kind. Unfamiliar terms 

 have been omitted wherever simple common words 

 would answer equally as well in conveying the intended 

 information. There being no work of this kind pub- 

 lished in this country that would serve as a guide, I 

 have been compelled to formulate a plan of my own, 



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