Why, then, should not this be one of their ancient settlements, and these trees the remains of their orchards, cultivated by them for their fruits and other uses ?" "But _we_ make but little use of such trees," remarked Francois.
"What's that you say ?" exclaimed Basil.

"You, Francois, who every year eat such quantities of shell-bark nuts, and pecans, and red mulberries, too!--you who suck persimmons like a 'possum!--no use, eh ?" "Well, that's true enough," rejoined Francois, "but still we do not cultivate these trees for their fruits--we find them in the woods, growing naturally." "Because," interrupted Lucien, "we have the advantage of the Indians.
We understand commerce, and get other and better sorts of fruits from all parts of the world.

We have cereals, too, such as wheat and rice, and many kinds which they had not; we can therefore do without these trees.

With the Indians it was different.

It is true they had the Indian corn or maize-plant (_Zea maiz_), but, like other people, they were fond of variety; and these trees afforded them that.