1436 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART ITI. 
Amer., t. 8. f. 20; Catesb. Car., 1. t. 67. ; Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 158; our fig. 1260., and the plate 
of this tree in our last Volume. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaflets, in a leaf, 13—17; cordate-acuminate, unequal at 
the base, serrated, somewhat downy ; lateral ones upon short petiolules. 
Fruit globose, roughish with minute prominent points, situated upon a 
short inflexible peduncle. Nut globose, somewhat compressed at the 
sides, ridged and furrowed. (Michx. North Amer. Sylva, i.p. 153.) A native 
of fertile soil in woods in North America, from New England to Florida. 
Introduced in 1656, and growing to the height of from 60 ft. to 100 ft.; 
flowering in April or May, and ripening its fruit in October. 
Description,§c. The 1260 
black walnut, in the 
United States is of- N A 
ten seen from 60 ft. N/ ¢ fl 
to 70 ft. in_ height, WWI IY, PMA, f 
with trunks of from 9 27S \ MA AH A 
3 ft. to 4ft. in diame- SSS 1/7. 
SWZ | A 
ter; and occasionally N i L Ay Wi 
much higher, with ff Ft NAN SG 
trunks of from 6 ft. to 4 qa \ VE 
7 ft.in diameter. Ac- ZA |} . 
cording to Michaux, “ ~ a WE [ps 4 ae j 
when it stands insu- jo (f Vig ww eae G Bo 
lated, its branches ex- Va WOT, 
tend themselves ho- 
rizontally to a great si 
distance, and spread 
into a spacious head, 
which gives the tree a 
very majestic appear- 
ance. The leaves are about 18 in. in length, composed of 6, 7, or 8 pairs 
of opposite leaflets, with an odd one. They are acuminate, serrated, and 
somewhat downy; and, when bruised, they emit a strong aromatic odour. 
The male catkins are simple, pendulous, and cylindrical; unlike those of 
the hickories, which are always compound. The fruit is round, odoriferous, 
and of rather an uneven surface: it is sometimes 7 in. or 8 in. in circum- 
ference when fully grown; and it always appears at the extremity of the 
branches. The husk is thick, and is not, as in the hickories, divided into 
sections; but, when ripe, it softens and gradually decays. The nut is 
hard, somewhat compressed at the sides, and furrowed. The kernel is 
divided by firm ligneous partitions. According to Michaux, it is of a sweet 
and agreeable taste; but Catesby says that it is very oily and rank; and, 
when fallen from the tree for some months, or gathered and laid by, is 
only eaten by squirrels or Indians. The wood is of a dark colour, approach- 
ing to black. In Kentucky, the nut is nearly as large as the European wal- 
nut; but in Genessee, where the climate is colder, it is not above half the size. 
Michaux says that the differences in the moulding of the fruit are so various, 
as to induce Europeans to consider the variations, in this respect, as indica- 
ting distinct species. In England, the tree attains as great a height as in 
North America, but the fruit is not quite so large. In the garden at the 
palace at Fulham, abundance of fruit is produced every year ; and the nuts are 
sent to table, but scarcely considered eatable. The growth of the tree is re- 
markably quick, more so than that of the European walnut: the leaves come 
out, in Pennsylvania, in the second week of May; and, in England, about the 
beginning of June, before those of the common walnut. At 8 or 10 years of 
age, J. nigra begins to bear, and age increases its fertility. No tree will grow 
under its shade, and even grass is injured by it. In 40 years it will attain 
the height of from 50 ft. to 60 ft. 
Geography. This tree is found in all parts of the United States, as far 
Se ae ee 
