The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-02-05

They were gathered ABOUT tle l"iIh-
house fire in the mellow light of a
swing lamp, and the head of the house
sent his youngest son to the
garrett for butternuts. A little later,
with an iron lapstOne on his knees
and hammer in hand, he was produc-
ing rhythmic rap-rap-rap-crack-
cllnk, as the crinkly brown shells split
open and were tossed into a basin, eX-
posing their delicately favored twin
meats.
This is the last crop from that old
tree" be remarked, thOughtfully. paus-
ing after a few minutes of fascinating
labor. "ROtted out, and the wind got
1t last night. And l have gathered
nuts from that tree since was little
like in short breaches"
The hammer rested for a few mo-
ments. and the fingers OF the farmers
left hand ran medItatively through the
pile of richly laden shells.
"Fifty years." he unused. Fifty
springs I've seen the green come out
on the leaves; fifty falls / or my chill
dren or grandchildren have picked up
bushels Of nuts; and fifty winters I've
sat by the fire here and cracked them.
That butternut tree has been a good
old friend"
None to Take Its Place.
Yet, with all the pleasure that he
had obtained from that tree, the farm
er, thrifty in nearly everything, had
no new butternut trees coming up TO
take the place of the patriarch which
the wind destroyed.
1t is only recently that serious at
tentihn has been paid to nut-trees
planting. Landowners set out Or
chards and plant trees in dOOryards
and on the highways for shade; but
nut-bearing trees, which usually re-
qulre eight to fifteen years to come
into bearing, have been III a measure
neglected.
There are a number Of nut-bearing
SPECIES, say specialists Of the United
States Department of Agriculture,
which grow as rapidly for shade as
the maple or elm, and which will yield
pleasure and some revenue for quar-
ter or half a century after the first
few years of cultivation.
The butternut Is now being produced
by nurserymen and grows farther
north than most other species. But
ternut trees will bear in about eight
years and form an attractive yard or
roadside ornament, especially in the
northern states.
More attention, however, isSbeing
paid to its relative, the black walnut.
The late war made heavy inrOads on
the ranks of these fine old trees for
gunstOcks, airplane parts, and other
material; but nurserymen already had
begun to grow young trees to make up
| the loss. Contrary to the common
idea, the black walnut is not neceS-
sarily a slow grower. Under good
conditions Of culture, 1t becomes one
of our most rapid growing trees, es-
pecially of the more valuable woods.
II has been known to bear few nuts
In six years. At fifteen to twenty-five
II is a heavy producer. and In old age
It is always a resource for timber.
The chestnut, which has been an I'M
portant resource for centuries, Is now
one OF the tragedies of freedom. due
TO the bark disease brought from
Japan. The United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture and various nut
culture associations are now work
ing with some promise Of success TO
develop varieties which are blight
resistant. Until they arrive at estaD-
lished results, It will probably not be
wise to plant chestnuts In any sec
ton where the bark disease Is preVa'
lent.
The shagbark hickory makes 9
handsome shade tree, and quite re"
varieties have been prOpagated. Shag
barks generally come into bearing
after fifteen or twenty-five years. a
few hickory trees planted now would
be a comfortable resource for another
generation.
The beech is a slow grower. and car
scarcely be classed as a cOmmercia
nut. but is an attractive ana money
free where there is room Tor III
spread. Beechnuts furnish daintle'
for an evenings chat, or left on th'
ground In woods and pastures the!
furnish fattening material for pig
and turkeys. If the beech tree
headed low, 1t offers less chance 10
6efacing its smooth bark with JACK
knife hieroglyphics.
One other interesting nut tree Is 'h'
fi,bert. or European hazel. 1t Is one 0
our most tantalizing species, for WIN
1t can be made to grow In many part
of the North, no variety has yet pee
found to bear probably east OF tn
Rocky mountains, due to the fact ina
IT flowers early and is caught by frosI
In the Pacific Northwest 1t bids raj
TO soon become an important nut.
Pecan a FaVorite.
The pecan is easily the favorite an
most important nut Of America
,rigin, prolific and profitable in tn
/ south and now being introduced we
MO northern states. Bearing peca
rees are not infreauent along the A