Chap. '24.] VAEIETIES OF THE NUT. 315 



poses. The tree is a good bearer, but does not resemble the 

 other kinds, the leaf being nearly that of the plane-tree ; the 

 fruit, too, is particularly small. Cato u speaks of sorbs being 

 preserved in boiled wine. 



CHAP. 24. (22.) — NINE YAEIETIES OF THE NUT. 



The walnut, 12 which would almost claim precedence of the 

 sorb in size, yields the palm to it in reference to the esteem 13 

 in which they are respectively held ; and this, although it is 

 so favourite an accompaniment of the Fescennine u songs at 

 nuptials. This nut, taken as a whole, is very considerably 

 smaller than the pine nut, but the kernel is larger in propor- 

 tion. Nature, too, has conferred upon it a peculiar honour, in 

 protecting it with a two-fold covering, the first of which forms 

 a hollowed cushion for it to rest upon, and the second is a 

 woody shell. It is for this reason that this fruit has been 

 looked upon as a symbol consecrated to marriage, 15 its off- 

 spring being thus protected in such manifold ways : an expla- 

 nation which bears a much greater air of probability than that 

 which would derive it from the rattling which it makes when 

 it bounds from the floor. 16 The Greek names that have been 

 given to this fruit fully prove that it, like many others, has 

 been originally introduced from Persis ; the best kinds being 

 known in that language by the names of " Persicum," 17 and 

 " basilicon;" 18 these, in fact, being the names by which they 



Sprengel to be identical with the Crataegus azarolus of Linnaeus. In 

 ripening, the fruit of the sorb undergoes a sort of vinous fermentation : 

 hence a kind of cider made of it. 



11 De Re Rust. cc. 7 and 145. 12 The Juglans regia of Linnaeus. 



13 Tastes have probably altered since this was written. 



14 These were rude and sometimes obscene gongs sung at festivals, and 

 more particularly marriages. While these songs were being sung at the 

 door of the nuptial chamber, it was the custom for the husband to scramble 

 walnuts among the young people assembled there. The walnut is the nut 

 mentioned in Solomon's Song, vi. 11. 



15 Or, more probably, from the union of the two portions of the inner shell. 

 _ i6 " Tripudium sonivium :" implying that it was considered sacred to mar- 

 riage, from the use made of it by the friends of the bridegroom when 

 thrown violently against the nuptial chamber, with the view of drowning 

 the cries of the bride. A very absurd notion, to all appearance. 



V The " Persian " nut. 



18 The " king's " nut. The walnut-tree still abounds in Persia, and 

 is found wild on the slopes of the Himalaya. 



