250 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



NUT CROPS 



The nut trees. We should not continue our study of the 

 forest without noting the importance of the nut trees. Nuts 

 constitute a valuable part of man's food. They are rich and 

 nutritious, and are coming more and more to occupy an 

 important place among our articles of diet. Some of the 

 leading varieties of nut trees are the almond, English wal- 

 nut, white walnut or butternut, hickory nut, pecan, chin- 

 quapin, black walnut, chestnut, hazelnut, cocoanut, and Bra- 

 zil nut. 



The hickory. The shell bark and shag bark hickories 

 furnish our best nuts. They make excellent shade trees and 

 bear sweet and wholesome nuts. Every country boy knows 

 how to gather hickory nuts. The hickory trees are propa- 

 gated by sprouts and seeds. As a forest tree for wood sup- 

 plies, the demand for hickory is very great, and the supply 

 is fast decreasing. 



The pecan. The pecan tree grows wild in many parts 

 of our country and is being cultivated in many of the south- 

 ern states. The Appomatox and Mantura are varieties of 

 pecans being adapted successfully for cultivation in states 

 as far north as .Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, 

 and Illinois. Pecans may be propagated from seeds, but bud- 

 ding and grafting give the best results. Pecan trees begin 

 to bear when about six years of age. The planting and grow- 

 ing of pecan groves is an enterprise worth trying, and cer- 

 tainly every farm should have a few trees for the sake of 

 the shade and nuts they will afford. 



