It was open meeting night at Hoosick Grange on Wednesday, October 22. Berta Burr was in charge of the Lecturer’s program. Her theme was black walnut trees, She told us that walnut trees are a forest tree, very valuable for their nuts and wood. There are several kinds that grow in the United States. Two are native to the east, the black walnut and the butternut. The English walnut was brought to the U.S. From Europe and is grown in California and Oregon. Black and English walnut trees provide lumber for valuable furniture. The black walnut tree is rare, grows fast and is hardy. It can live for 100 years. Its wood is used mainly for fine furniture and gunstocks. Berta had a nice piece of wood which was a dark purplish brown and had fine grain and luster. She also had a lovely black walnut bowl and two nuts she picked up from her tree. Berta’s husband made the bowl that was shining with luster, and you could see the fine grains. The nuts from the black walnut were in their hulls, or shells, and are very hard and thick. They are very hard to break. The squirrels love them. The nut has a rich flavor. They ripen and fall off the tree in September and October. The roots of the black walnut tree are the infectious part. They can grow 7½ to 8 feet long and are poisonous. Don’t use leaves in the garden, Berta said, they can kill plants or trees. They use the hulls and wood in making dyes. The black walnut tree is becoming rare and is increasing in value. We asked some questions, and then Berta had some jokes. We thanked Berta for a very interesting program. We learned a lot. We had some cider and doughnuts provided by Allen and Edna Cornell.
Our next meeting is November 5 – Rensselaer County Pomona Grange will have a covered dish supper at 7 pm. Our Hoosick Grange regular meeting is November 12. Martha Babbitt will give a report on the New York State Grange Meeting. Everyone is to bring goodies for refreshments.