Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-16
V1CNUEEUVT
she Fasnl0p Continues. {,

Nearly all persons are aware of the
enormous prices that have been paid
during the past few years for black wal.
nut lumber. This wood has been in de.
mand not only, for making nearly all
kinds of furniture but for inside finishing
for houses. The fashion for this wood,
started in the United States, spread rap.
idly to other countries, and it is now in
active demand in. every portion OF, .Eu-
rope. During several years past fortunes
nave been made in buying land covered
by black walnut timber or the ssstump-
age" cutting down the trees, and send
ing them to market. Some persons have
realized large sums by selling trees that
were standing on portions of theirfarm
that had not been cleared. In some in
stances old stumps have been sold at
very high prices for yeneering., Parties
have gone over every part of the coun-
try in search of black walnut lumber.
Thousands have regretted that they cut
down trees and used them for fuel or
fences, or simply destroyed them as
sscumberers of the ground.3'r They now
see that they could have realized for
tune If they had not ibeen so hasty in
their proceeding. The fashion for black
walnut furniture and finishing, which
became prevalent suddenly, shows no
signs of abating. The demand for the
wood becomes greater as the supply be-
comes limited. 1t is now transported
hundreds of miles on wagons and in
railway cars. 1t is the faVorite of the
maker and the buyer of furniture. Most
persons prefer it to mahogany, which
for centuries was the fashionable wood
for decorative purposes. That It con-
tains several desirable qualities is GER
tain, but it is equally certain that its
qualities have been greatly overrated.
The price of black walnut lumber is
so high and the supply of it so small
that the owners of land have been ex-
horted to engage in the culture of the
trees TO meet the demands of the near
and distant future. Parties have figured
out how much can be made by planting
given number of acres with these trees
and giving them suitable care and at
tention for q series of years The story
of s'some man in Wisconsin" who
planted ssa piece of land" with these
trees twenty-three years ago and re-
Gently sold his sscrop" for the sum of
S27, 900 has been told many times. The
story is not very accurately located, and
therefore it is difficult to procure evil
dence as to the truth or falsity of it. Ad-
hitting that it is true, however, it does
not follow that others will be so FORUM
ate. There is no accounting for tastes,
and the origin of most fashions is OBJ
scure. Fashions come and 90, and in
most respects they are as unreliable as
the wind Black walnut was first used
as cheap substitute for mahogany. 1t
soon became its successful rival. 1t
does not follow, however, that it will
always remain so. Indeed, it is very
likely that mahogany may soon occupy
the place it long filed, and that it will
not soon be displaced. 1t is also likely
that woods of light color will become
fashionable, to the partial and complete
exclusion of;those that are dark. They
sthad their day" and perhaps may have
it again. Tt is likely that at no very
distant period Improvements in 'sstuf-
fng,' porous woods may result in max
ingmuch material valuable that is now
regarded as entirely useless in the arts.
In all probability various metals, nat
urai and artificial stone, and even glass,
viii be largely employed in the place of
wood for making furniture.
Persons who have faith in the future
of the black walnut and who believe the
fashion for it will not change will be
likely to plant trees and wait for lib
eral reward for themselves or heirs.
Land planted to black walnut trees may
prove to be an excellent investment. 1t
may rise in value every year from the
time the nuts are placed in the soil. En-
should bear in mind, however,
that there is popular prejudice against
these trees on the ground that they i'm
poverish the soil where they grow, that |
they exert an injurious influence on most |
crops in the vicinity of them, and that |
the land where they made their growth |
is unproductive of certain crops after
The trees are cut away. The trees re-
quire rich soil to enable them to make
D rapid growth, and that of the Western
Statess>is admirably adapted to them.
Broken land that can not be plowed to
is generally well suited to the
of forest trees. A space for
The roots to occupy, can be prepared by
The use of the pick or spade, and if
necessary some fertilizing material can
be added to the soil. Almost all nut
bearing trees have very long tap-roots,
md provision may be made for their
by making hole with an
ron bar directly under where a nut is to
De planted. This hole can be filled with
crest leaves orsiwell-rotted stable ma
lure. u The soil for some distance can
llso be loosened by means of an iron
,ar or pick BY keeping the ground
covered with mulch no cultivation will
,e required. As the leaves, bark, and
branches of the black walnut are very
bitter, grazing animals are not likely to
Interfere With them. On many farms
1
here are portions OF land that are OF
title use fer the production of cultivated
rOps. = SIG 49,
At the last winter meeting of the In
llama Horticultural Society, the Secre-
arv, Mr.. w. III. Raglan, gave the fol-
owing excellent recommendations for
'lanting black walnuts on level ground
hat was to be cultivated: 49, II