NATIVE NUTS 145 



discovered it, and has kindly promised to forward as 

 some grafts. Should it prove as fine as he anticipates, 

 it will be quite au addition to our fruits, as it is 

 probably very beautiful in appearance." 



None of these Dative thorns has been widely ad- 

 vertised <>r sold except Cratcsgus cordata, the Wash- 

 ington thorn i Pig. Il'o). and this is known for hedges 

 and ornament rather than for fruit. It is native in 

 Kentucky and southern Illinois and southward, bul 

 is hardy in central New York. It has long been 

 known in Europe. It is a beautiful tree, sometimes 

 reaching a heighl of thirtj feet, and bearing freely of 

 brighl red apple-like and pleasant -tasted fruits. 



'ih i Nut-Fruits 



North America is peculiarly rich in its nuts. The 

 reader will recall the chestnuts, many kinds of hicko- 

 ries, walnuts, butternut, bazels, beechnut, nut pines, 

 and sweel acorns. Of all these types, onlj one species 

 has yet reached great commercial importance. This is 

 the pecan, which is a sepcies of hickory. The second 

 place in the progress of ameliorated native nuts is 

 taken by the chestnut. Beyond these, there are 

 no Bpecies which have attained to general importance 

 in cultivation, although there are several named varie 

 of the shellbark hickories and the black walnut 

 The interest in this class of fruits is great, however; 

 in fact, it is probablj greater than the commercial 

 importance of the subject warrants, for nuts are verj 

 secondary articles of commerce and, nol being per- 

 ishable, the\ can be shipped anj distal or even 



kepi from year to year. The excellent special litera- 



