BLACK WALNUT: Juglans nigra 



IN the early settlement of our country, trees were cut 

 down mainly for the purpose of clearing the land for agri- 

 culture, and few or none suffered more from such work than 

 Black Walnut This came about because it occupied the 

 best and most fertile lands in the valleys and the low 

 foothills bordering the principal streams, and hence was 

 the first to be attacked. Large numbers of trees were cut 

 down and burned. As it is very durable when exposed, and 

 splits easily, it furnished the fence rails for many a farm. 

 Later it was discovered that the wood was very valuable, 

 and then, without any consideration for a future supply, its 

 destruction went on rapidly, and it is now nearing exhaus- 

 tion. At present lumber cut from that tree brings in the 

 market the highest price of any of our native woods. Nor is 

 its value limited to lumber cut from the body of the tree, in 

 the sawmill, as is the case with nearly all other species of 

 timber trees, but limbs, crotches, and stumps are sought to 

 be worked into veneers, gun stocks, and for many other pur- 

 poses where fancy woods are desired. Stumps of trees cut 

 years ago are being dug up and bring large sums. Old 

 fence rails have been gathered for turnery, and old furni- 

 ture secured and cut into veneers and for other purposes 

 for which it was fitted. 



The natural range of the Black Walnut is from Massa- 

 chusetts west to eastern Nebraska, south from there to 

 eastern Texas, near the Gulf ; thence easterly to Florida, 

 and from there through western Georgia and the Carolinas 

 to Norfolk, Virginia, and on northward to Massachusetts. 

 It also grows in Canada along the St. Lawrence Kiver. Its 

 best development, both in size and quality, was west of the 

 Alleghany Mountains and ou the fertile slopes of the Appa- 



