THE WALNUT. 



253 



trunk, and strong, crooked branches, which diverge from 

 the main stem somewhat after the manner of the Oak. 

 The leaves are pinnate, like those of the Ash, but much 

 larger : when young they are tinged with red, and at all 

 periods, until they wither, emit a powerful and fragrant 

 perfume when slightly bruised. The young branches are 

 brittle, and remarkably stout to the very extremity : the 



FIU'IT OF WALNCT. 



bark on these is smooth and shining. The rudiments of 

 the barren flowers appear early in the summer previous 

 to their expansion, and are conspicuous in the axils of 

 the leaves, in the shape of short conical spurs, which 

 are smooth, and of a greenish-brown hue. In the follow- 

 ing summer these lengthen into drooping, cylindrical cat- 

 kins. The fertile flowers do not show themselves before 

 the year that they beai fruit, when they appear among the 



