NUTS. 435 



some enormous hickory nut, an immense chestnut, a nearly 

 finger-long pecan, the product of some unknown tree, " back 

 in the country," but save for its annual appearance and im- 

 mediate sale at a big price, the unknown has remained unlo- 

 cated and unnamed. Consequently the list of identified 

 varieties is very small. It will doubtless increase with 

 rapidity. 



While the extraordinary size and appearance of nuts, as in 

 soft fruit, will always have a favorable influence in their sale, 

 it should not be overlooked that it is often the case that small 

 nuts may have proportionately larger meats and be of sweeter 

 and higher flavor than larger ones. Each variety should be 

 judged upon its individual merit. 



Wherever there is a tree which produces nuts which pos- 

 sess apparent superiority over others, the owner should send 

 specimens, with the fullest description of the tree, its probable 

 age, location, and peculiarities to the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station of his State (see p. 272), and thus aid in the develop- 

 ment of this new industry. 



PROPAGATION. 



It is generally conceded that the surest way to grow nut 

 trees is to plant the nuts. As with all other trees, this is not, 

 after all, the slowest way to obtain good, healthy, long-lived 

 trees. The height that even the slow-growing hickory will 

 reach at two years, if properly managed, will astonish 

 most persons, 



The vitality and germinating power of nuts is greatly im- 

 paired by loss of moisture, so that but a small proportion will 

 sprout if kept out of ground and not planted until the follow- 

 ing spring. Gather them as soon as they fall in the autumn, 

 spread them upon the ground, cover with three or four inches 

 of sand, and upon that as much nice loam. Under this cover- 

 ing, exposed to the weather, a large percentage will keep in 

 good condition through the winter. As soon as the ground 

 can be worked take them out and plant in rows, about six 

 inches apart. The following spring dig them up, cut off 

 about one-half-of the tap-root and plant again. The next 

 year follow the same course, and the third year plant out where 



