The squirrels do not gather all of the nuts. Children and grown people enjoy nutting. When there are not enough nuts on the ground, the men and boys climb the trees to shake them off. Then everybody hunts among the leaves for the treasures.
Some of the most important nuts are walnuts, hickory nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, chestnuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, and peanuts.
Many of the hickory nuts fall out of their coverings bright and clean. Walnuts generally have to be shucked, and the juice stains the hands almost black.
As hazelnuts grow on bushes, they can be easily picked. They usually drop out of their burs after there have been a few frosts.
Many nuts are gathered in the woods, but in some places the trees are cultivated just as fruit trees are.
We usually eat nuts between meals, or as a dessert. They are not simply dainties, but are very valuable articles of food. In some countries the poor people depend upon them for food.
In almost any city of our country are to be found the nuts that I have mentioned, with perhaps several other kinds. These have come from different states, some from Canada, some from Brazil, and some from Spain.
I am sure you will enjoy gathering nuts of different kinds, so let us set out on a nutting expedition.