8 THE XUT CULTUKIST. 



east and north we find the one-leaved pine (Pinus mono- 

 phylla), and although the seeds are much smaller than 

 those of P. edulis, they were formerly gathered in im- 

 mense quantities by the Indians, to help eke out their 

 often scanty winter store of food. Occasionally a small 

 quantity of these pine nuts is sent to Eastern markets, 

 but rarely, unless ordered early in the season. The trees 

 of P. edulis and P. monopliylla are perfectly hardy here, 

 and worth cultivating for ornament, as well as their 

 nuts, although their slow growth is a rather severe test 

 of one's patience. Fig. 104 shows a Pifton branch. 



PISTACHIO NUT. Historically, this is a very ancient 

 nut, for Bible commentators claim that it is the one sent 

 by Jacob into Egypt. It is the fruit of a small, decid- 

 uous tree of the cashew family (Anacardiacece), a native 

 of western Asia, but many centuries ago it had become 

 naturalized in Palestine and throughout the Mediterra- 

 nean regions. It has shining evergreen winged leaves, 

 and the bark on the young twigs is brown, becoming 

 russet-colored with age. There are several different 

 species, but the one producing the nuts of commerce is 

 the Pistacia vera, having brownish-green flowers in 

 loose panicles, and these are succeeded by bunches of 

 reddish fruit, about an inch long, with an oblique or 

 bent point. The nuts have a double shell, the outer 

 one usually red, the inner one smooth and brittle ; the 

 kernel is pale green, sweet, and of rather pleasant taste. 

 There are a number of varieties, differing only slightly 

 in form and size. This nut has been cultivated spar- 

 ingly in Great Britain since 1570, but the climate is not 

 quite warm enough to insure its ripening in the open 

 air. It would probably succeed throughout the greater 

 part of California, as well as in the extreme Southern 

 States, but Mr. Berckmaiis writes me that it is not 

 hardy in his grounds at Augusta, Ga. There is a species 

 of pistacia known as P. Mexicana, found in central 



