102 Edible Wild Fruits of New York. 



Of nut-bearing trees and shrubs we have ten species with edible 

 fruits. These are so well known that I will merely mention their 

 names. There are two walnuts, the black walnut (Juglans nigra) and 

 the butternut (Juglans cinerea)', four hickories, the common shag- 

 bark hickory (Carya alba), the western shagbark hickory (Carya sul- 

 cata), found only in the western part of the State, the small-fruited 

 hickory (Carya microcarpa), found only in the southern part of the 

 State, and the mocker nut, or white-heart hickory (Carya tomentosa), 

 found chiefly in the southern part of the State; one chestnut (Cas- 

 tanea vesca, var. Americana)', one beechnut (Fagus ferruginea)md two 

 hazelnuts, the wild hazelnut (Corylus Americana) and the beaked 

 hazelnut (Corylus rostrata). 



The monocotyledonous, or endogenous plants, from which we 

 derive all our valuable cereals, except buckwheat, afford us almost no 

 native species with edible fruit. The seeds of Indian rice (Zizania 

 aquatica) are said to have been a favorite article of food with the In- 

 dians, and the berries of Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflora and 

 Polygonatum giganteum) are said to have been eaten by them, but I 

 am not aware that the whites have ever followed their example in this 

 respect. The fruit of the birthroot (Trillium erectum) is sometimes 

 eaten, but, on account of its scarcity and unattractive character, it is 

 hardly worthy of a place among our edible fruits. The cultivated 

 cereals sometimes spring up by roadsides or in waste places, but they 

 do not become permanently established. In this country at least 

 they are as much dependent upon man for their continued existence 

 as man is upon them for his subsistence. 



In conclusion, we find that New York has at least fifty-six species of 

 indigenous plants which bear edible fruit. Of these, fifteen are al- 

 ready cultivated and offered for sale by nurserymen. At least seven 

 or eight more are, from the excellency or promising character of their 

 fruits, worthy of cultivation. Adding to the fifty-six species the ten 

 that bear edible nuts and the nine introduced species that are culti- 

 vated for their fruit, but that sometimes grow wild, and we have 

 seventy-five species which bear edible wild fruits within the limits of 

 the State. Probably few, if any, States can make a better showing in 

 this respect. Then, when we consider the almost innumerable varie- 

 ties that may be developed from these by cultivation, crossing and 

 selection, we may begin to realize with what a lavish hand nature dis- 

 penses her gifts, and from what an abundant storehouse we are per- 

 mitted to draw. 



