434 
THE GARDENERS- CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
EDIBLE FRUITS OF THE FORESTS 
TT is said that Daniel lloone and some of the other 
early pioneers could i^o into the wilderness with 
onl}' a rifle and a sack of salt and live in comfort 
on the game and other wild food which the woods 
afforded. While few people want to try that sort of 
thing nowadays, persons who know the food value of 
the fruits of our native trees and shrubs are, according 
to foresters, able to use them to good advantage in 
supplementing other foods. 
Aside from the numerous edible mushrooms, roots, 
fruits of shrubs and smaller plants, the trees of the 
forests afl^ord a large variety of edibles wdiich are 
highly prized by woods connoisseurs. First in im- 
portance, of course, are our native nuts — beech nuts, 
butternuts, walnuts, chestnuts and chinquapins, hazel 
nuts and several kind of hickory nuts, including pecans. 
The kernels of all of these are not onl}- toothsome 
but highly nutritious and are used by vegetarians to re- 
place meat. The oil of the beech nut is said to be 
little inferior to olive oil, while that of butternuts 
and walnuts was used by some of the Indians for 
various purposes. The Indians, it is said, also formerly 
mixed chestnuts with cornmeal and made a bread which 
was baked in corn husks, like tamales. In parts of 
Europe bread is made from chestnuts alone. 
Acorns are commonly thought to be tit only for feed- 
ing hogs, but many kinds of them can be made edible 
and nourishing for people as well. The Indian custom 
was to |iOinid or grind the acorns up and leach out 
the tannin which makes most of them imfit for eating 
when raw, by treating" the pulp with hot water. The 
resulting flnur, which contained considerable starch, 
was made either into a porridge or baked in small 
cakes of bread. As a rule, the acorns of the various 
white oaks having less tannin are the ones best suited 
for food, but Indians also used those of the black 
oaks, even though they contain much tannin. The 
acorns of the basket or cow oak, the chinquapin oak. 
shin or Rocky Mountain oak, live oak and of several 
other species, are sweet enough to be eaten raw. 
Several western pines have seeds which play an im- 
portant part in the diet of the local Indians. Perha])S 
the best known of these is the fruit of the nut pine 
or pinon, which forms the basis for a local industry 
of some size. Not only is it extensively eaten by 
local settlers and Indians, but large quantities are 
shipped to the cities where the seed is roasted and sold 
on the street. The similar seed of the Parry pine and 
the large Digger ])ine seeds are eagerly sought by the 
Indians. The latter tree is said to have gained its 
name from its use as a food by the Digger Indians. 
The seeds of the longleaf pine are edible and are im- 
proved by roasting. Indeed, it may be said that most 
nuts are more digestible when roasted than if eaten 
raw. 
One of the best known fruits, the foresters sa}-, is 
the persimmon, which is edible only after it is thor- 
oughly ripe. As this is usually not until late in the 
fall, it is commonly thought that the fruit must be 
frostbitten. If the persimmon is eaten before it is 
well ripened, the tannic acid which the fruit contains 
has a strongly astringent eft'ect, wdiich justifies the 
story of the soldier in the Civil War who said he had 
eaten green persimmons so as to shrink his stomach 
up to fit his rations. The papaw, or custard apple, 
is also best when thoroughly ripe. The fruit of some 
species of haws is eaten or preserved in different parts 
of the country, while those of several different kinds 
of wild cherries have a food value and are used for 
various purposes. Wild plums are alnrndant in cer- 
tain sections and occur in particularly plentiful (juanti- 
ties along the streams in the Eastern and Middle 
Western States. 
Several varieties of wild crab apples make delicious 
jellies. Some of the largest, which attain the size of 
small apples, are more or less abundant throughout 
eastern North Carolina. Elderberries are frequently 
used for pies and for sauce. Those found in the Wes't 
are_ sweeter and have a better flavor than the eastern 
varieties. 
The berries of the hackberry, or sugar berry, as it 
is called in the South, are dr_v but have an agreeable 
taste. Those of the mulberry are sweet and juicy when 
ripe. The mulberry is valued in some sections for 
feeding hogs and poultry and some species are occa- 
sionally cultivated. 
Many people like the fruit of the shad bush, "sarvice" 
berry, or June berry, as it is variously called. In parts 
of the cixmtry this fruit is used to make jelly. 
The French Canadians are said to use the acid flowers 
of the redbud, or Judas tree, in salads, while the buds 
and tender pods are pickled in vinegar. Honey locust 
pods, often locally called "honey-shucks," contain a 
sweetish, thick, cheeselike pulp, which is often eaten. 
Those of the mesquite furnish the Mexicans and In- 
dians with a nutritious food. The Creoles of Louisiana, 
famous for their cookery, are reported to use the young 
buds of the sassafras as a substitute for okra. in 'thick- 
ening soups. 
WINTER FLOWERING BEGONIAS 
(Continued from pai;e 431.) 
Propagation. After resting the plants, put them in a 
temperature of 65 to 70 degrees, giving them an increase 
of water, still using great care. Then you will soon see 
growths appearing from the axils of the leaves. When 
they are about three inches long, you will find the most 
suitable cuttings. Take oft', inserting around small pots 
in a mixture of clear sharp sand and clean leaves of 
ef|ual ])arts. • Put in a case of above tenijierature, water 
with care, giving lots of ventilation so as to keep vour 
foliage as dry as possible, otherwise rust : when rooted 
pot on in small pots, after which give same potting and 
mixtures as laid down for imports. As to your old 
plants, after you have taken all the cuttings, you mav 
need, or if you would like to grow on after they begin 
to make root and growth, shake them out from the most 
of their old soil, potting them up as prescribed. In all 
cases it will be found necessary to stop or pinch back the 
growth to make them bushy, otherwise they will be very 
disappointing. I would also sa}- do not firm or vou reap 
the same disappointing result. 
.\rtiiur J.\cksox, 
Grove Points. ^lichigan. 
Of Interest to Estate Owners 
Th.' National Associatii-ii .if (ianlt-iU'ts maintains a S.-rvJoe Biin-au 
which i^; at the disposal of all who may require the services of efficient 
yiardeners in their various capacities. 
The association seeks the co-operation of estate own«ns in its efTorts 
to secure opportunities for those ens:nsecl in the prof^-ssicn of ;:anlen- 
ing who are seeking: to advance themselves. It makes no charge for 
services rendered. It endeavors to supply men (pialifii-d t<« assume the 
responsibilities the position may call for. 
Through this service the National .Association of f;anlfners arms to 
Iiiiim the Cnuntry n>tate Owner and the truly etticicut men enjiagcd 
in till- jm. Cession in closer relation to each other, that the interest'" In 
ornanientnl hnrticulture and itf greater development in tliis country 
may thereby be elevated. 
Make your requirements known to 
M. C. EBEL, Sec'y. National AssociativR of Gardeners, Madison, N. J. 
