364 



PRODUCTS OF THE FOREST AND WOOD LOT 



for sale to orchards. Some Japanese varieties are also grown. 



These are propagated as in the case of other improved varieties by 



bark-grafting and cleft-grafting. 



Grafted trees are placed about forty feet apart in orchards 



and intercropping systems are adopted for a number of years 



when permanent grass is usually started. 



Almonds. Cultivated almonds were 

 commercially grown in California long 

 before the culture of other kinds of nuts. 

 In the irrigated regions of the mountain 

 states from New Mexico to Idaho, the 

 -crop is now commercially grown. 



The almond is a relative of the 

 peach, and its culture is similar. The 

 trees blossom very early in spring and 

 are likely to be killed by late spring 

 frosts. This requires that care be taken 

 to place the orchards in situations well 



F,O. 254.-The opening of a provided with air drainage. 

 chestnut bur." The native nut a Cocoanuts are grown in the warmer 



are sold in our markets. There . . , , 



are a number of the larger foreign parts of Florida where the climate IS 



infofou? L n ativT?p C e a cies y "rfc 

 a w n d od so f ft th bu c t 



manv uses - 



moist. Groves of several thousand trees 

 are found near Biscayne Bay and in the 

 vicinity of Lake Worth and Cape Sable, 

 Florida. The trees are started from seed and begin bearing as 

 young as six or eight years from time of planting. 



Other nuts are grown either wild or cultivated less extensively 

 than those treated here. Under the head of ' 'Nuts," the Standard 

 Cyclopedia of Horticulture gives a list of more than 250 different 

 kinds, most of which represent different species. These are not 

 all used for home food and some are not at all edible. 



FIELD AND LABORATORY EXERCISES 



1. Collecting Forest Products. It would be interesting to make up a 

 collection showing most of the forest products as mentioned in Farmers' Bul- 

 letin 468, quoted in this chapter. 



2. Visit a wood lot or forest and study the wastes as usually allowed 

 fallen trees, decaying wood, destruction by beetles, damage by fires, and others. 



* 3. Depth of Forest Carpet. In a woods of old trees, examine the "forest 

 carpet" of leaves, twigs, leaf mold and undergrowth. 



4. How Forests Prevent Floods. On a large board or small table top, 

 place a desk blotter or flannel cloth about two feet square. Tip the board or 

 table at an angle of about 45 degrees and pour on it near the upper edge a glass 

 of water. Note how well the blotter absorbs and holds the water. Now 

 remove the blotter from the table and pour on another glass of water and see 



