is said and felt throughout the food markets of
the world.

The Indians alone appreciate this portion of Nature's bounty and
celebrate the harvest home with dancing and feasting. The cones, which
are a bright grass-green in color and about two inches long by one and a
half in diameter, are beaten off with poles just before the scales open,
gathered in heaps of several bushels, and lightly scorched by burning
a thin covering of brushwood over them. The resin, with which the cones
are bedraggled, is thus burned off, the nuts slightly roasted, and the
scales made to open. Then they are allowed to dry in the sun, after
which the nuts are easily thrashed out and are ready to be stored away.
They are about half an inch long by a quarter of an inch in diameter,
pointed at the upper end, rounded at the base, light brown in general
color, and handsomely dotted with purple, like birds' eggs. The shells
are thin, and may be crushed between the thumb and finger. The kernels
are white and waxy-looking, becoming brown by roasting, sweet and
delicious to every palate, and are eaten by birds, squirrels, dogs,
horses, and man. When the crop is abundant the Indians bring in large
quantities for sale; they are eaten around every fireside in the State,
and oftentimes fed to horses instead of barley.

Looking over the whole continent, none of Nature's bounties seems to
me so great as this in the way of food, none so little appreciated.
Fortunately for the Indians and wild animals that gather around Nature's
board, this crop is not easily harvested in a monopolizing way. If
it could be gathered like wheat the whole would be carried away and
dissipated in towns, leaving the brave inhabitants of these wilds to
starve.

Long before the harvest time, which is in September and October, the
Indians examine the trees with keen discernment, and inasmuch as the
cones require two years to mature from the first appearance of the
little red rosettes of the fertile flowers, the scarcity or abundance
of the crop may be predicted more than a year in advance. Squirrels, and
worms, and Clarke crows, make haste to begin the harvest. When the crop
is ripe the Indians make ready their long beating-poles; baskets, bags,
rags, mats, are gotten together. The squaws out among the settlers at
service, washing and drudging, assemble at the family huts; the men
leave their ranch work; all, old and young, are mounted on ponies, and
set off in great glee to the nut