THE WALNUT. 139 



for burning in lamps. When the leaves and recent 

 husks, in their green state, are macerated in warm 

 water, the extract, which is bitter and astringent, is 

 used to destroy insects; and it is a very permanent 

 dye, imparting to wool, hair, or the skin and nails of 

 the living body, a dingy greenish yellow, which cannot 

 be obliterated without a great deal of labour. On 

 this latter account, it is said to have been used by 

 gypsies, in staining the complexions of stolen chil- 

 dren, that they may appear to be their own offspring. 

 The quantity of oil in fresh walnuts is very consider- 

 able, being about equal to half the weight of the 

 kernels. 



There are several varieties of the common walnut, 

 as the thick shelled, which afford the best timber; 

 and the thin shelled, which have most fruit, and yield 

 most oil. These, however, are mere varieties; for, 

 as is the case with the oak, and many other trees, in 

 which we find a variation in the colour and shape of 

 the leaves, and in the fruit, all the varieties may be 

 obtained by sowing the nuts of the same tree. 



In cultivated vegetables, indeed, there is a con- 

 fusion of varieties which is not met with in animals. 

 The animal mules, whether quadruped, as between 

 the horse, and the ass or the zebra, or birds, as 

 the cross of the goldfinch and canary-bird, are 

 all barren : but the new varieties of plants, though 

 apparently accidental, are generally productive; and 

 thus, by the seeds alone, varieties may be produced 

 almost without end. Many trees of more full growth, 

 in which forced cultivation has destroyed the faculty 

 of perfecting seeds, may be propagated by cuttings 

 or layers. 



The form which the branches of the walnut-tree 

 assume is generally beautiful. In May, the warm 

 hue of its foliage makes a pleasing contrast with 

 other trees; but it opens its leaves late and drops 

 them early. 



