Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-04-10

large measure to solve the problem of the ma
tons food supply Such figures as these are
cited: TWENTY-FIVE million acres of nut trees
would more than supply the people of the United
States with their two most expensive food prod
ucts, protein and fat"
During the last few years much scientific ex-
detrimental work in nut growing has been carried
on by members of the Northern Nut Growers as
sociation which includes representatives of some
tWenty-three states, but is in no sense a CONNER
cial organization. 1t is made up of men inter-
ested in that great food producing engine, the nut
tree from the point of view of the nation as a
whole and the food problem that will confront the
coming generations more acutely than 1t confronts
this generation.
By cross polarization and by hybridizng, the
association members getting extraordinary
results in the way of big, ucious nuts of lusty
growth. Almonds, English walnuts, succuent
pine nuts not indigenous in the latitude of New
York, for example, growing in various
parts of the state. BY hybridizng, old hickory
nut trees that formerly produced nuts of an in
ferior quality are now producing nuts of the best
quality.
With the government and states working to-
gether in the establishment of market highways
and the building of permanent roads, is the
time to urge the planting of trees. Community
effort is needed for such work. If such action
this had been taken in this country in former
years roadsdes would be more beautiful, the
farmer more independent
Unfortunately the tree has not been used vet
for crops yielding staple food in places where men
till the SOIL They begin with crops which return
annual results in exchange for labor Now that
the crops from annual plants are becoming smaller
every year in proportion to the increased number
of inhabitants, men will set great trees at work
upon millions of half-barren acres. These trees
will return larger profit for less labor than
would be required for annual plant crops.
In many parts of the world where annual crop
plants are raised with difficulty, tree crops fur
nsh staple starch food. There are regions in
which chestnuts and pines practically take the
place of wheat and corn, and these trees may be
raised profitably where wheat and will not
longer grow prOftably.
At present a hybrid tree is great curiosity;
men often travel far to see it. They do not stop
to realize that thousand hybrid trees can be
produced with very little trouble, and among
these would be some of enormous value to the
world.
Among the food trees of the nut-bearng group
the palms with their many species of coconuts
stand first the pines next and the chestnuts third
in order so far as the food supply Of the various
people is concerned. Then the almonds,
walnuts, haZes, hckories and other nut-bearng
trees the nuts of which have been looked upon
as luxurious rather than as good substantial
calories.
The pines and allied conifers will take their
respective places in furnishing food supply for us
all when the need comes. Such need is already
close upon The squirrels and mice every year
eat thousands of tons of good food that man could