The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1883-01-20
ACORNs FOR EUROPE.
Missouri Forests Called pom to Furnish Seed for
the Old World.

'ho NiA WVtlhs
IL shipped 300 bushels of red oak
acorEs for Europe a few days since"
said gentleman who was riding with q
Globe Democrat reporter in a hack
bound for Clayton yesterday. Upon
inquiry the gentleman proved to be Mr..
G.. W. LetteIman. of Attention, st.
Louis county, who has beeu acting as
special agent OF the forestry depart
ment under appointment of Prof. g. S.
Sargent, of Harvard, for the collection
Of data for the tenth United States CEN
sus. Continuing his Introductory re-
marks, ho stated that the novel ship
ment of acorns had been ordered in
connection with 100 bushels of pig-nuts
by Thomas Meehan. Of Germantown,
Pa. Pig-nuts, he explained grew on
species of hickory tree, but were not
edible on account Of their bitterness.
These acorns and Tig-nuts were to be
exported to Enflrnd and Germany,
where theySwould be planted during
the coming spring. Experiments in
those countries with various kinds of
hardwood trees indigenous to North
America have proven these varieties to
be best adapted to tho foreign soil and
climate. In their adopted land they
will be planted ON barren hill-sides
and such other untillable lands as can
only te utilized in the pursuit Of for
restry. Acorns are not merchantable
article. Neither can pig.nuts be pro-
cured in the market; for these reasons
there was no little difficulty in filing
so large an order The seed had to be
gathered and planted between one fall
and spring, otherwise it would be
worthless. 1t was with considerable
misgiving that Mr.. Letterman under
| took the contract. His knowledge of
the forestry enabled him 10 select the
desired varieties, but the trouble he
anticipated was tn finding them in suf-
ficient quantities, and in inducing par.
ties to do the gathering. Searching in
the forests about Attention he found a
great many red oak and pig.nut trees.
Encouraged by his discovery he set
men, women and children to picking,
five weeks ago, and on the Both of last
month he shipped the entire invoice,
AZ sacks of pig-nuts containing 100
bushels, and 1l9 sacks holding 800
bushels of acorns. The total outlay he
estimates at $500, when placed upon
the Missouri Pacific car.
Forestry was receiving considerable
attention OF late years in this country,
Mr.. Letterman said, and he spoke OF
efforts made in this direction by Prof.
Sergent of the American Museum of
Natural History at Central Park, New
York. Mr.. IIetterman has been en-
gagged in behalf of this institution col
Letting and forwarding specimens Of
North American woods. The speci-
mems ho has collected and sent on are
the finest he has been able to obtain.
: AS much rs two carloads have been
forwarded at one time, and for which
no charge is made by the railroads.
None but perfect specimens will be re.
t ceived. They must be cut in q season
when the bark will adhere to the wood,
A perfect specimen is five feet long, as
nearly round as possible, and ia taken
from the MAR. body of the tree. To
save them from injury by shipment
thick casing OF hay or excelsior is bound
: around the specimens, and then they
are sewed up in bagging, such as is
used on cotton bales. A large number
of specimens have been shipped from
Attention aud others have been sent
from different points in Missouri, Ar
kansas and Texas. The largest speci-
men was sycamore that was as great
in diameter as its length and weighed
3 $500 pounds. There was another, a
bur oak OF about the came dimensions.
y Sweet gum, which was formerly con-
/ sidered of but little value, is becoming
very popular for cabinet. making and
inside finish 1t ptrtakes of high
q polish and is susceptible OF being made
l 80 ttaA lind - A
3 is rapidly taking the place OF walnut
for veneering, and is now being used
extensively in the finishing of palace
! coaches. II grows abundantly in the
! low lands OF the three states named
t and attains the height of sixty feet with
out limb, the trunks being from to
J, feet in dinmater. A remarkable group
I of sassafras was discovered about five
D miles east Of Poplar Bluff. Ordinarily
, tho tree is small and scrubby, but in
this grove it grew among other trees to
, an altitude OF 60 feet, and measured
from to feet through the trunk.
5 Catalpa were also found in that SEQ
, ton from SO to 40 inches through and
tall in proportion. This timber, which
e is coming into favor for its rapid growth
, and lasting qualities, will thrive well
D on the prairies. But in Mr.. Letter
D mans estimation il ia not adapted to
Q the climate north OF the fortieth degree.
|. Among other excellent qualities Of this
tree is the thriftiness, 1t grows about
. one inch in diameter every year. A
! new discovery in forestry was made by
Mr.. Letterman, recently, in Wood
county, Texas. where he found what he
calls black red-haw trees. These trees
resemble very much in size and ap-
pearance the danson plum tree, but
I, their fruit is precisely the same in flavor
aud size as that which grows on red-haw
trees, the only difference being in the
color. A specimen Of this timber was
! furnished DIR. Ingraham, who prizes il
highly.
Wild Goats as Result Of the War.
New York News.
. As showing the instinct Of tho goat,
. which Is not generally credited with
4 much intelligence, visitors 10 harper,a
/. Ferry, Va, are informed that When the
3 war broke out and the sound OF the
I cannonadlng was heard IN the valley,
! large numbers Of .ame animals OF thia
!. description took refuge on the Mary,
: land Heights, and has uever returned.
4 Even now they can b0 seem on the top
a Of the mountain. Their Young have