BIRCH FAMILY 



scales ; the outer scales broad and edged with hair, the inner lan- 

 ceolate hairy and fleshy. Ovary incompletely two-celled, adnate 

 to the calyx ; style short, stigmas two, threadlike. These inner 

 scales increase in size with the nut and become the husk, or in- 

 volucre. 



Fruit. Nut, ovoid, or oblong, about half an inch high, 

 slightly flattened ; pale brown, roughish at base where it adheres 

 to the involucre. Involucre compressed, composed of two nearly 

 distinct, downy, leaf- like bractlets, fringed on their margins, com- 

 monly broader than high, more or less exceeding the nut, becom- 

 ing grayish brown when mature. Kernel sweet. July, August. 



The Hazel-nut responds to the first smile of spring 

 in the same way as the alders. The staminate catkins 

 hang stiff and rigid throughout the 

 winter, but they relax as soon as 

 warmth comes, develop their pollen, 

 fling it upon the wind and fade away. 



The fruit of the American Hazel 

 resembles the filbert of commerce; in 

 flavor it is fully equal, many consider 

 it superior. Certainly the size and 

 quality of the nut is such, that were 

 it worth while, by careful cultivation, 

 and by judicious selection of seedlings, 

 a race of fruit-bearing hazels could 

 be produced whose product would 

 equal if it did not surpass that of the 

 European species. But as it is, our 

 hazel-nuts comfort the squirrels, who 

 gallantly resent intrusion upon their 

 preserves, and delight the children who 

 wish to go nutting. Possibly this wild 

 service is sufficient ; who shall say that it is not ? 

 The name of this bush has always expressed the feel- 



452 



Winter Branch of 

 American Hazel-nut. 

 Catkins scattered 

 along the branch, as 

 well as grouped at 

 the end. 



