WALNUT OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 433 



red-brown colour, marked with whitish streaks, hard and heavy, but 

 somewhat coarse-grained ; it splits readily, and being impregnated 

 with a resinous oil, is durable, and used for shingles, palings, etc. 

 The bark is bitter, and is used by the Indians as an emetic. 



Wallflower (CliierantMts Cheiri), a perennial plant of the 

 Cabbage family (Cruciferas), native of Southern Europe, growing 

 on walls and rocky places. It was introduced into this country 

 more than 300 years ago, and its fragrance has led it to become 

 a general favourite. It seldom grows more than a foot in height ; 

 in its natural state the flowers are single and of a yellowish 

 colour, but by cultivation various fine-coloured double flowers 

 have been introduced, of which many acres are cultivated for 

 the supply of the markets, especially near London. 



Walnut {Jitglans regia), a tree of the Walnut family (Juglan- 

 dacese), attaining a height of 60 or more feet, native of the 

 region of the Caspian and eastward through the Himalaya to 

 China, coming through Persia westward. It was cultivated in 

 Palestine in the time of Solomon, and early extended West 

 through South Europe, and is recorded to have been cultivated 

 in this country more than 300 years ago. The wood of the 

 Walnut is valued by cabinetmakers for its beautiful veining and 

 dark colour, the plain wood being used for gunstocks. An oil is 

 extracted from the nuts equal to olive oil, which is used by 

 painters, and forms an article of trade. It is also used in soap- 

 making. 



The edible nutty part of the Walnut is the two lobes 

 (cotyledons) which are crumpled up in the shell. Although a 

 considerable quantity of Walnuts are produced in this country, 

 they nevertheless fall far short of the demand, large quantities 

 being imported from France, Belgium, Holland, the Two Sicilies, 

 and other places. In 1870, 152,681 bushels were imported, 

 valued at £42,638. Many trees of large size and apparent old 

 age are to be found in this country ; one in Somersetshire being 

 60 to 70 feet high, with a girth near the ground of 18 feet, and 

 the circumference of branches 300 feet. This tree has been 

 known to produce 25,000 nuts in a year. 



2f 



