The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-09
sununnAx onrs1Nur tnsra
Itsiia.s Crowd the schooiboy- HARD In ts'
Qnthertnr OF the Nutp.

htnInnn Sr0wo tho BcnootuON3 hheFe u ~
Gathering OF the Nuts.
Van Courtlandt Park Is richer in nut-bearing
trees OF many kinds. and especially In chest
nuts. than all the other public parks combined
Itseems that in a region OF stone fences the
chestnut trees usually endure into advanced
old age Now that part OF Westchester county
Immediately adjoining New York city Is
region Of stone fences and there probably
never was time when the greed for chest
nut posts and rails, so priced elsewhere.
brought about tho early destruction OF
the chestnut trees. A chestnut grove In
many parts OF the United States is valu-
able solely because OF the number OF chestnut
rails It will produce. Few trees are permitted
TO reach diameter OF twelve inches. and the
chestnut grows 80 rapidly that several crops
may be cut In a generation. So It happens
that in a land OF rail fences large chestnut
trees are scarce. Westchester county. how
ever, IL rich In great chestnuts Some OF the
finest In the whole country are rooted In that
suburban wilderness. the Bathgate woods. and
notfar behind them in height and Girth are
the chestnuts OF Van Courtlandt Park.
Every chestnut burr that grows In tho
suburban region has envious eyes fixed upon
it's prickly Development. and as the season OF
frost approaches this avaricious inspection is
daily more frequent Suburban lads used to
have 1t pretty much their own way with sub
urban chestnuts. but the boys have recently
encountered horde OF lively competitors In
tho Italian newcomers. Tho Italian colonies
Of Westchester county and the annexed dis
trict are scattered in little groups all over the
region. and these people know all about chest
nuts. Italy Is the land OF tho chestnut. There
are whole forests OF chestnut trees on tho
sides OF the Alps and the Apprentices. The
greatest chestnut tree in the known world.
the chestnut OF a hundred horses" stands
on the alone o! Etna. The chestnut furnishes
the chief food OF many Italian peasants. It Is
used to thicken soup ami even to make bread.
When the Italians had looked over tho sub
chestnut trees they neGan to feel at home. and
when 0ctobencame the suburban boy learned
fnr cSnstnm nthe %hy stood no cbance With
men. women, and children who seemingly had
nothing to do but gather chest Iu al the
rpening until snow hegins to fall the Italians
haunt the woods and parks and road sides Il, In
pecks and bushels to be roasted in the oven or
made into mush. Chestnuts enter into the cal.
the coat OF autumn living has to he figured up.
When the chestnut blossomed last spring the
might be some chestn S Tor them them this autumn
IN spite OF the Italians. The trees had sold Rt
tSe Mas9' drought came Sighting tho
young chestnuts. anh nov the crop seems Gems
%sdisteiy nor. he Of NJ" Wood aWn Cemetery and
to opop. the chestnut bnrrs Is not entirely cor:
wait for the frost ,The. approved method q
snake limb alter limb. /: the Hu i are open
TIE chestntHts hail down ~ the hundred; t th
s "f It@a % ma mas s that im
practicable In Van Courtlandt Park and
nelghboring suburban woodlands; me trees
week In September. sometimes as much as ten
days before the earliest burr opens Whoie
nuts in this fashion. tho men casting stones
and clubs into the trees. the women and
This process. however. leaves an aftermath
th Sy hS
work with the Chestnut hurrs. The observant
LAD who can start bright and early on morn
homo aS With Van
landt Park Is the best place for this manner OF
chestnuttinE. The mos: beautiful and fruit.
borders Mosholu avenue Immediately east OF
Mosholu station. The grove covers about two
ali Of moderate size. There are iew
more tnsHirtine ssxped1ions than thai ehs ut
Wooded sides of the neirhborinG hills; and
even as late as the middle Of October
1hsFe up r st sSa the ssn
park therea bouts is at its best and widest
although the railway station lS but TWO MIN
utes distant, and the grove is charming with
sun-dapped carpet OF grass. splotched here
as the sunlight itself. The hillsides near at
hand conceal several great chestnut trees that
arc less frequently visited than those OF the
grove. because of the rank underground and
fallen trunks that make the ascent difficult.
The walk thence eastward across country to
Woodlawn or Mt Vernon takes the adventurer
through region peopled with chestnut trees
great and small. each with some remnant OF
its fruitage. overlooked by keen Italian Rlosn-
ers. still hidden beneath the leaves.