54 THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF WOOD. 



lighter- tinted wood. (The nuts of the walnuts are a source of 

 profit. ) This is particularly true of the English Walnut (Juglans 

 regia), which is extensively cultivated for its fruit in California. 

 The City of Pasadena has in a single season (1904) realized 

 $7375 from sixteen hundred fifteen-year-old trees cultivated in 

 connection with its sewage farm.* 



Black walnut trees seldom form forests by themselves, but 

 occur generally in mixed growth. They grow quickly, but the 

 heart wood for which the tree is valued begins to form only 

 when the tree is at a considerable age, so that a number of 

 years must elapse before a tree can produce wood of the 

 desired quality. Trees one hundred years old furnish the best 

 quality of wood. 



Small pieces of dark, rich brown wood are available from the 

 Mexican or Arizona Walnut (Juglans rupestris), which grows in 

 >parsely settled areas from Texas and Arizona southward into 

 Mexico, and is also known as the Western, Dwarf, Little, and 

 California Walnut. The California Walnut (Juglans californica) 

 inhabits the coast region, intermittently, from the Sacramento 

 River to the San Bernardino Mountains. Trees are often very 

 small, but diameters of fifteen inches are not uncommon. The 

 blue brown woods, while suited for cabinet making, are seldom 

 used. Both Mexican and California species afford coarse nuts, 

 gathered by children. The English Walnut is sometimes grafted 

 on trees of the last named species. 



Circassian Walnut wood is distinct from common black walnut 

 in that the color is not solid. There are large open figures, waves 

 and streaks showing black with yellowish white. The rich effects 

 and the scarcity of this product rank it with satinwood. It is used 

 in piano cases, panel work, and other costly decorations. 



Walnut trees may be known by their nuts, the husks or pods 

 of which adhere unbroken, instead of loosening, completely 

 divided into four sections, as with the hickories. Juglans is from 

 Joins t signifying Jove's and glans, signifying acorn. This nut, 

 not the fruit of the oak, was the acorn of the ancients.| 



* The net returns of the preceding season amounted to $4738. 

 t The ancients considered the shade of the walnut as harmful to all life. It is 

 certain some vegetation is affected, probably by properties in fallen leaves. 



