HOW TO GROW GOOD TIMBER. 295 



single tree was sold for £600, owing to which many 

 of the noblest specimens were sacrificed ; and Loudon 

 tells us that, about 1806, no less than 12,000 trees 

 were annually required for these uses in Prance. 



In England this tree is principally grown for its 

 fruit, which is a great favourite when ripe as an 

 adjunct to the social glass. Still enormous quan- 

 tities are never allowed to attain to ripeness, from 

 their being used in a green state for the purposes of 

 pickling, sauces, and the like ; indeed, so much is the 

 green part of the walnut esteemed for its flavouring 

 properties, that the very " hulls," or coverings to the 

 ripened fruits, are employed as an ingredient in the 

 preparation of sauces and flavourings. 



Another use of the fruit, especially on the Con- 

 tinent, is that of making oil, which is considered to be 

 little, if at all, inferior to fine olive-oil. 



The walnut-tree, then, may be considered as offer- 

 ing many claims for its more extensive cultivation, 

 for although native growths of timber have been of 

 late years in a measure superseded by American 

 walnut and hickory wood, still it offers no mean 

 inducements to the planter upon this score alone, at 

 the same time it must be allowed that with us the 

 chief inducement to the culture of this tree is the 

 value of its fruit and the handsome tree which it 

 makes. 



In the growth of this and the preceding, it is 

 always best to procure good, healthy, young trees 

 from the nurseryman ; indeed, in planting all forest 

 trees this may be considered as not only the best, but 

 usually the cheapest mode of proceeding. 



