(76) 



nut, native from southeastern Europe to China, produces a 

 most desirable nut, often called Madeira nut; the Romans 

 introduced it into Italy, and from that place as a center its 

 cultivation has spread in all directions, both in the Old World 

 and the New; the nuts form a common article of food in 

 southern Europe; in Europe and northern India an oil, 

 called walnut-oil, used as a substitute for olive-oil, is obtained 

 by subjecting the seed-leaves to pressure. The black walnut 

 and the butternut are both wild elsewhere in the Garden. The 

 pecan-nut (Hicoria pecan), wild in the south central United 

 States, is another nut of popular favor, as is also the big shag- 

 bark, or king-nut, of the eastern United States. The water 

 hickory, of the southeastern United States, and the bitter-nut 

 or swamp hickory, of eastern North America, are both rep- 

 resented, while the common shag-bark hickory and the pig- 

 nut grow elsewhere in the grounds. 



The birch family is located on both sides of the driveway 

 to the south and southwest of the stable, where birches, alders 

 and hornbeams are planted; the Japanese hornbeam is rep- 

 resented by a single specimen along the road to the propa- 

 gating houses ; the American hornbeam is common in Bronx 

 Park, and the hop-hornbeam is occasional. Those desiring to 

 study the birches (Betula) will find several species available; 

 one of these is the yellow birch which grows wild in eastern 

 North America, and is one of our most valuable timber trees; 

 the wood, on account of its closeness of grain, strength and 

 hardness, is suitable for many purposes. Another is the 

 paper, or canoe, birch, of frequent occurrence in northern 

 North America ; the wood of this is preferred to that of any 

 other tree for the manufacture of spools, and is also used in 

 the manufacture of shoe-lasts and pegs; the Indians also 

 make use of its wood in the manufacture of sledges, and from 

 its tough bark they also make canoes and baskets. The 

 Japanese white birch, a close relative of the American and 

 European white birches, is represented. The river or red 

 birch may be seen here ; it is frequent along streams and lakes 

 in the eastern parts of the United States; its wood is used in 



