48 CONVERSATIONS OS THE 



" Yes, the colour it yields is exceedingly 

 strong, and the country people use it for dying 

 their woollen stuffs ; but regular diers do not 

 think much of it, because there are other 

 things that answer their purpose better. I 

 have only to tell you now that the black wal- 

 nut is found in all parts of the United States, 

 but is most plentiful in the Middle and West- 

 ern : it loves a good soil, neither sandy nor 

 swampy, and cannot endure a very cold cli- 

 mate. And now, boys, we will look at those 

 butternuts you have been picking up while I 

 was talking." 



" They are not ripe yet, Uncle Philip." 

 " No, but they will be very soon ; they 

 ripen about the middle of September, a fort- 

 night earlier than the other kinds of walnut. 



o 



I suppose you know what the nut is good 



for." 



" Oh yes, Uncle Philip; good to make pickles, 



and very good to eat. They seem to be very 

 plenty this summer. Last year we had 

 scarcely any." 



"Yes, they are very irregular in their 

 growth, as to quantity : some years one man 

 can gather several bushels in a day ; and at 

 other times there is hardly a nut to be seen." 



