PLANTS WHOSE SEEDS WE EAT II5 



has small claim to the attention of the dealer in 

 commercial nuts. But you and I know that it 

 is sweet and rich, once you get it out of its shell. 

 Its chief limitation is its diminutive size. In a 

 good year, the crop will furnish the best of past- 

 urage for fattening pigs. In the old days, the 

 settlers counted on turning their swine into the 

 woods to get into condition for the finest bacon 

 and hams. This fact gives significance to a pop- 

 ular trademark. 



Beechnuts in Europe have, from ancient times, 

 been used as an article of human food. Beech- 

 nut oil, refined, is as sweet as olive oil. It is 

 used as a cooking oil, and in crude form for illumi- 

 nation. 



The botanical name of the tree, Fagus, comes 

 from a Greek word that means, "good to eat." 

 The foliage of beech trees, silky and beautiful 

 as it turns to yellow in the fall, serves a number of 

 useful purposes. In Switzerland the stable lofts 

 are stuffed with the leaves of beech and linden, 

 which cattle eat as winter fodder. Mattresses 

 are stuffed with the fragrant leaves which are 

 credited with sleep-inducing powers. 



The wood of beech is one of the important 

 hardwoods of Europe. It has the distinction of 

 being used for the leaves of the first books made. 



