OCTOBER. 253 



A half-dozen or more species of oaks that either cluster 

 on the hill-side or are scattered over the meadows provide 

 acorns of as many patterns, but all are, of course, distinct- 

 ively that fruit. One can not mistake the acorn for any 

 other nut, as he might the leaves of the tree that bore it. 

 Those of one species are like the chestnut's foliage ; an- 

 other's is like that of the willow. Of the various shapes, 

 colors, and sizes, I prefer the pretty marbled fruit of the 

 chestnut oak, which is usually as richly colored as the 

 asters and golden-rods upon which it falls. Why I gather 

 them, often until my pockets overflow, I can not tell ; but 

 as I look upon them they appear such goodly nuts that 

 none should go to- waste; and yet, of all tree-products, 

 none seem so neglected — so without a purpose, here, at 

 home. Unlike the chincapin or hazel-nut, they can not 

 be eaten ; at least, I have yet to find a person who owns to 

 eating them ; and not one in thousands, if it sprouts, be- 

 comes even a sapling ; not one in a million reaches to the 

 dignity of an oak tree. 



Are acorns bitter or sweet according to the soil upon 

 which they grow? I am surprised to find any of them 

 asserted to be edible, in Gray's Manual. Here they are 

 disgustingly bitter ; or are we overnice, because of having 

 such an abundance of sweeter nuts ? I have called them 

 a " neglected " nut, and so they really seem. Nor mice 

 nor squirrels care for them while other food lasts. I have 

 found untouched hoards of acorns that squirrels had 

 gathered, but left because the shell-barks also stored had 

 proved sufficient. And yet I have seen squirrels bury 

 them with care, as though foreseeing their needs, and 

 planting an oak for their indefinitely great grandchildren. 

 I do not suppose a squirrel proposes to disinter the nuts it 

 hides singly in the ground and use them as food. A 

 mammal with such an extraordinary memory would soon 

 cease to be a mere mammal by reason of it. It is, per- 



