FOR PROFIT. 87 



CHAPTER X. 



WALNUTS AND CHESTNUTS. 



What place do these find in the market for profit ? 

 some will say at once. 



Walnuts are not so long in coming- into bearing 

 as many imagine, and are well worth attention, at 

 any rate at landlords' hands. The green fruit always 

 commands a price for pickling, and in this way the 

 trees want no minding. Possibly the " husks " or 

 skins of the ripe nuts may be used for dyeing as well 

 as catsup ; and the ripe nuts are among the most 

 generally appreciated of table fruits. Again, as timber 

 trees they are not to be despised, and as the time 

 may be far distant when our " spears are beat into 

 pruning hooks " the wood will always command a 

 price for rifle and gun stocks. In America there is 

 already a wail from the furniture maker that walnut 

 wood is scarce, and no doubt the recent fashion for 

 furniture, other than in mahogany, will not die out 

 for many years. Walnut is among the best now used. 



Sweet Chestnuts are less valuable ; still they are 

 worth planting in parks for their splendid foliage and 

 general appearance, and the nuts are always useful 

 for cattle food ; the largest can be sent to market, and 

 the small ones be used for cattle feed or be sold or 

 planted for seed. 



Nurserymen can supply both these in large trees, 

 which, provided they have been properly prepared, 

 move well. They require staking at once on planting. 



