NUTS 



37 



enormous proportion of oil. This, although of use as food, 

 renders nuts more difficult of digestion than grains, and 

 causes them to spoil with keeping after a comparatively 

 short time. 



Fk;. 24. — rhestnut (Cnstanea sativa, Beech Family, Fagacecr). A leafy 

 twig, bearing flower-clusters composed mostly of yellowish, staminate 

 flowers with a few greenish pistillate flowers near the base. About 

 one-quarter natural size. (Baillon.) — The plant is one of the largest 

 forest trees of the north temperate zone, sometimes in forests attain- 

 ing a height of 30 m. Bark, on the trunk and older branches, dark, 

 very hard, and with long deep clefts; when younger smooth and lighter 

 colored; young twigs deep green, bronzed or purplish brown, covered 

 with whitish dots. Leaves, polished, bright green above, smooth and 

 paler below. 



In spite of their disadvantages, however, chestnuts, wal- 

 nuts, and peanuts form a very important part of the food of 

 many Europeans, largely taking the place of cereals. In 

 many tropical regions where cereals do not grow, immense 



