18 
THE NATIVE TliEES OJP liHOOE ISLAND. 
orchard, in bearing* condition. Sterile, or thin-soiled, rocky 
grounds, are good for chestnut growth, and the trees go on with 
practically no expense. For apples, we must fight all the way, 
and good, strong land must be given to the trees. If you wish to 
keep the restless boy upon the farm, let him plant and own a 
chestnut orchard. He takes to chestnut trees as naturally as the 
squirrels, and he would be delighted to add profit to his pleasure. 
The Buttebnut. 
The butternut is one of the true walnuts. Like other walnuts 
the outer husk of the nut is continuous, while in the hickories the 
outer husk is four-parted. This tree is native in this State, but is 
not common. It grows vigorously when planted. It is a very 
desirable tree for odd corners about a farm. It grows rapidly, 
and, if cut down, sprouts persistently. It makes a broad, spread- 
ing tree, somewhat late in leaf, but affording a good shade. The 
limbs are not numerous, but stout to the very ends. Each leaf is 
a picture in itself. The foliage clothes the tree with notable 
beauty. Dressed lumber of the butternut is in constant demand 
for cabinet work and nice inside finishing. It is light in weight, 
white, with slight tinge of red, receives a high polish, and is very 
durable. As a tree for producing fine finishing material the but- 
ternut is certainly desirable. 
Butternut trees should be raised for the sake of the boys — and 
girls, too. Three or four bushels of the nuts is none too great a 
winter’s supply for an enterprising, country boy. In after years 
some of the brightest links in his memory will be of certain crisp, 
October days, baskets of fat butternuts, grandfather’s garret, the 
winter gathering of boys and girls, young and old, and the treat 
that follows from the stores of autumn. Marble fronts and costly 
drawing-rooms are dreary wastes beside such remembrances ! 
The black walnut has been reported as indigenous in this State, 
but the truth of this is doubtful. It thrives here vigorously, how- 
ever, grows large, and bears nuts plentifully. It makes a good 
shade-tree. 
