22 A TREATISE ON NUT CULTURE. 



chickens and the like cannot get at them. The ground within the box being 

 about on a level with the ground within the sunken box, say about two inches 

 below the top of the box. In the spring these nuts, then bursting open with 

 the growing germ, are transplanted to the nursery row or spot of ground where 

 it is intended the tree shall grow. 



The Black Walnut is reported wild over a broader territory than any other 

 nut. In the early history of the country the trees of this nut formed large 

 forests, especially in Southern Michigan and on the south side of the Ohio 

 river. Of especially thin-shelled or extra flavored nuts of this kind there are 

 very few reports, yet there are some reports of nuts superior to the average. 

 The peculiar flavor of the Black Walnut seems to be less popular than the 

 flavors of other nuts, and in this perhaps may be sought the reason why this 

 once-abundant nut has offered so few selections for general culture. 



A cheap and efficient method of cleaning the " hull" from the nut is: hav- 

 ing placed the nuts, after gathering, upon grass in the shade of some tree or 

 building for about ten days, till the " hull " turns dark and softens, then run 

 the nuts through an ordinary corn-sheller and pick, by hand, the nuts from 

 among hulls torn off by the sheller; place the nuts on shed or screen to 

 thoroughly dry, away from any chance for sand to become imbedded in the 

 rough shell of the nut. Only when thoroughly dried in a cool atmosphere 

 are these nuts best. When stored for winter either in bags or barrels they 

 should be kept away from heated rooms else the oil of the nut will become 

 rancid and unpalatable. 



The Butternut is worthy of more attention than it has generally received. 

 There is but one report received by the Pomologist of a superior nut of this 

 kind; possibly other people may become interested to watch for what may be 

 growing wild in their neighborhoods, and the future may find culture and care 

 developing this nut for a broader market. 



Aside from its value as a nut for the use of the confectioner or for winter 

 cheer, it is capable of being wrought into very unique ornaments. 



With a very fine saw, cut across the nut into sections of about a quarter of 

 an inch thick and it will be found that each section will present two very per- 

 fect heart-shaped and two diamond-shaped figures, from which the operator 

 removes the particle of " nut-meat." On fine sand paper the two sides of the 

 section are brought to a high polish, and the heaAs and diamonds may be 

 filled with different colored wax and the whole again polished on a stone. A 

 pin secured to the back will serve to.attach it to the dress as an- ornament of 

 no mean pretentions, but cheap. 



In curing this nut, care should be taken, as with the Black Walnut, that no 

 sand gets into the rough shell; a grain of sand thus lodged in the curing is apt 

 to find its way among the kernels under the teeth of some unfortunate eater. 



