CHAPTER VI. 



WALNUT, MULBERRY, MAHOGANY. 



WALNUT. 



BEFORE the introduction of mahogany, the walnut 

 was " the cabinet-maker's tree" in England, and it 

 was well adapted for the purpose, being tough and 

 strong in proportion to its weight, beautifully varie- 

 gated, admitting of a fine polish, durable, and ob- 

 tained in sizes sufficiently large. In many parts of 

 the continent, where the expense of the carriage of 

 mahogany is great, the walnut is still extensively 

 used in the manufacture of furniture; and, perhaps, 

 there is no native tree which bears the climate 

 of England well, that is better adapted for the 

 purpose. Oak, though abundantly durable, cannot 

 be finely polished without great expense, and it is 

 heavier in proportion to its strength. 



Of the Walnut-tree, (called by the Romans Ju- 

 glans, or the nut of Jove,) there are very many 

 species enumerated, which have been divided by 

 modern botanists into three genera. Of these species 

 it is necessary to mention only two as timber trees, 

 the Common Walnut-tree (Juglans regia) and the 

 White Walnut, or hickery-tree (Juglans alba). The 

 first of these is a native of the warmer parts of 

 Europe, or perhaps of Asia; and the last is a native 

 of America. 



The common walnut is a very handsome and a 

 very useful tree. It is true that the fruit does not 

 come to maturity in the northern parts of this island; 

 and that in the southern, nay in countries much far- 

 ther south, it is apt to be injured by the frosts of 



