WALNUT TREES IN SCOTLAND. 205 



Germany, until a very recent time, no young farmer was per- 

 mitted to marry till he had given proof that he had himself 

 planted, and was " the father " of a stated number of walnut trees 

 — a law which was most religiously enforced down to very recent 

 times, so great was the advantage supposed to be to the inhabi- 

 tants, and to the country generally, from the abundant presence 

 of the walnut tree. In olden times, again, the fruit of the walnut 

 was wont to be strewed by the bridegroom at a wedding, — to 

 indicate that he had, on entering his new phase of life, cast aside 

 his boyish amusements and games, or perhaps more likely to 

 signify that his bride had desisted from being any longer a votary 

 of Diana, to whom the walnut tree was sacred. From a very 

 early date, the individual properties of the walnut, in many parts 

 of the Continent, were held in great veneration and repute. It 

 is almost ludicrous to recount some of its fancied curative pro- 

 perties and the superstitious practices prevalent regarding these ; 

 and with respect to the various parts of the tree, — fruit, foliage, 

 oil, and bark. Thus, — a bitter decoction of the leaves and husks 

 of the fruit macerated in hot water, and spread upon lawns or 

 garden walks, would destroy worms and slugs without injuring 

 the greensward. The water of the husks was believed to be an 

 unfailing antidote against all pestilential infectiDus, and that of 

 the leaves to heal inveterate ulcers. The green husks of the 

 fruit boiled used to make a good dye, of a deep yellow colour 

 without any mixture. A distillation of walnut leav^es with 

 honey and urine would make hair to grow upon bald heads. 

 The kernel masticated, if applied to the bite of a suspected mad 

 dog, and after it has lain for three hours, if cast to poultry, they 

 will die if they eat it, should the dog have been mad. In Italy, 

 at the present day, the country people drink a pint of fresh 

 walnut oil to cure any pain in the side or liver, and are said to 

 receive immediate relief; but " more famous," says Evelyn, " is the 

 wonderful cure which the fungous substance separating tlie lobes 

 of the kernel, pulverised and drunk in wine in a moderate 

 quantity, did perform upon the English army in Ireland, afflicted 

 with a dysentery, when no other remedy could prevail." The 

 juice of the rind was also used as an effectual gargle for sore 

 throats. 



With such a list of healing virtues, real or supposed, no 

 wonder that the walnut tree has been so extensively propagated 

 in continental countries ; and probably, owing to a belief to some 

 extent in these reputed qualities, it was tirst introduced into this 

 country by the early monks from the continent of Europe ; and 

 lience the earliest specimens now extant are, as we have shown, 

 chietly to be found flourishing beside the mouldering ruins of 

 the old ecclesiastical foundations of their departed hierarchy. 



