If nut trees were planted along all our highways and railway thoroughfares, a food crop would be produced of greater nutrient value than that yielded at the present time by the entire live stock industry.
That an educational campaign may be made to succeed was shown by the experience of the raisin producers of California.
Some years ago, when the raisin industry was prostrate, I received a letter from the secretary of an association organized for the purpose of trying to revive the industry, asking for information concerning the food value of raisins. I called attention to the fact that the raisin is rich in food iron and a good source for this food mineral and suggested that if the people were made acquainted with this fact through a broad advertising campaign, the demand for this delectable fruit might be greatly increased. "Have you eaten your iron?" soon appeared in the newspapers throughout the land, and the raisin farmers of California found it necessary to enlarge their vineyards.
A discouraging feature of the nut industry to beginners is the long time required to bring trees to bearing. On this account, it seems to me that state and federal governments should lend the industry a helping hand. I would suggest that this association should instruct its president and secretary to make an earnest effort to persuade state and federal governments to give more attention to the planting of nut trees in their reforesting operations.
A broad belt of nut trees running the length of the great timberline which is to be created for the protection of the western states from a recurrence of drouth, might prove a more dependable protection to our food supply than the possible effect of a narrow strip of woodland upon the country's climate.
I append a table which shows the high food value of nuts as compared with other common foods. One pound of walnut meats equals in food value each of the following:
| Pounds | |
| Beef loin, lean | 4.00 |
| Beef ribs, lean | 6.50 |
| Beef neck, lean | 9.50 |
| Veal | 5.50 |
| Mutton leg, lean | 4.20 |
| Ham, lean | 3.00 |
| Fowls | 4.00 |
| Chicken, broilers | 10.00 |
| Red Bass | 25.00 |
| Trout | 4.80 |
| Frog's legs | 15.00 |
| Oysters | 13.50 |
| Lobsters | 22.00 |
| Eggs | 5.00 |
| Milk | 9.50 |
| Evaporated cream | 4.00 |
Dr. Deming:
I am sure everyone feels that the trip here would be worth while if we didn't receive another bit of information but your paper, and they would really like to develop some kind of an ailment so that they could place themselves under your care.
Mr. Reed: