Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-08-11
Squirrels Plant Trees.

S0oHrSfs iaut hreeS-
Bouncing along the rail fence ike
n bit OF animated thistledown, re
manages TO convey the impression that
he hasn't a serious thought in his
head, and a few would suspect that IN,
squirrel is the chap who supplied the
American army with the wood for thei,
gunstocks, though he did not mean to
to do II, of course. He was looking az.
ter his own food supply, saving the
resources of summer against the famine
OF Winter, but incidentally he placed
big deposit TO mans account in IA
lures savings bank.
The Forest Service, United States
Department Of Agriculture, is authori-
ty for the statement that III. squirrel,
through his habit OF burying nuts, has
oeen the most important agcn; IN the
reproduction Of the black walnur
groves The timber from the groves
planted years ago by the squirrels sat.
ished an important need during the
war when walnut was used TO make
gun stocks and airplane 2ropellers.
Substitute woods for gunstocks hrye
been tried BY many manufacturers.
but none have been found that proved
as suitable for this purpose as The
black walnut
The fence rail forester seems TO
} have the needs Of the Llack walnut in
his mind when he gees about his
work. As saplce tbs species can
, not endure much shade: il it Is to
/ survive it must be planted in rich
/ soil where the sunlight will fall uron
II. The squirrel has set on, whole
) groves by burying the nuts in the
, open areas at the forest edges, and
, also many single trees by planting
in the fence corners. Why he buries
the nut is evident enough, but why he
leaves some of them to sprout and
grow is not SO clear. II may be that
. an unusually severe Winter-or a hun
ter or an owl or something else-k!lls
> the little banker before he has time to
draw out his savings. An early
Spring may make him independent OF
his storage plant. Or it may be that
: he has an absent-minded streak in his
y makeup and just forgets where he puts
thing. Whatever the cause, hui
manity profits by the result.
In reviewing the present supply OF
this valuable wood the specialists es-
innate roughly that there are S2l ,OOO,.
Z 600 feet Of black walnut in this coun-
try. This figure is approximate on
ly, and it is well to remember tina,
only so per cent Of II is available ia
commerce. The remaining so per cent
is growing in inaccessible spots, or is
held by owners who refuse to sell.
Black walnut is valuable, 1t is easy
to secure a stand, and it makes fair
ly rapid growth. There Is always a
demand for it. and in war times an ex-
ceptional demand at high prices. Un-
der these circumstances il would seem
that large commercial groves would be
the common thing, but the fact that
this tree requires the use OF good
agricultural soil handcaps commercial
production. Before the war the an
nual cut of black walnut ran between
100000 and 100000 feet year,
but the hostilities have considerably
reduced the supply now available.
Careful management OF the exist
ing groves and the establishment OF
new ones wherever economic condi-
tions will permit will be necessary
measures IL the needs Of the future
are to be met. Black walnut has ex-
ceptional qualities when planted as an
ornamental tree. With the exception |
Of tent caterpillar its foliage appears
to be nearly free from insect pests
that damage the beauty Of other shade
trees. 1t also furnishes a nut which |
is edible and Of commercial value.