BLACK WALNUT 315 



large quantities are cut into veneers. Much of that now 

 harvested is shipped to Europe in the log. 



The tree blossoms late in May and ripens its fruit in 

 October. The nuts should be gathered as soon as ripe, for 

 squirrels to which should be mainly credited their distri- 

 bution in the forests of the past are extremely fond of 

 them. They should be at once planted or covered in layers 

 of sand, where they can be frozen during winter, and 

 planted as early in the spring as possible. In no case should 

 they be permitted to become dry. The tree develops a very 

 prominent tap-root the first year of its life, frequently going 

 down into the ground twenty or more inches, while the stem 

 may not have raised its head much over eight inches above 

 the surface. It resents interference with this feature of its 

 development and seldom fully recovers from its injury or 

 removal, notwithstanding the fact that it will naturally 

 throw out prominent lateral roots as it grows older. From 

 this it will be seen that growing plants in the nursery and 

 transplanting them into the forest, or anywhere, cannot be 

 expected to result in complete success. The only certain 

 way is to plant nuts where the trees are to stand until ma- 

 ture. Fall planting will be best if there is no danger that 

 squirrels or other nut-eating animals will destroy them. 

 They should be covered from one to two inches deep, ac- 

 cording to the character of the soil. The seedlings grow 

 from six to eight inches high the first year, and will make 

 good headway in their struggle with unwelcome neighbors. 

 They should not be planted in the shade. 



While the nuts are valuable and are highly prized, no re- 

 turns from these should be expected from trees grown in 

 the forest, for they will not bear until old, and then spar- 

 ingly. Those grown in the open will produce fruit, but at 

 what age is not definitely known, possibly at twenty-five or 

 thirty years. To bring forth tall, straight trees, free of 

 limbs for twenty or thirty feet, planting must be close and 

 thinning carefully done. Probably six by six feet apart 

 would be about right for rich ground, but five by five feet 



