164 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



our, when exposed to the air, is a fine, rich, dark brown, ap- 

 proaching to black ; and as it takes a brilliant polish, it is com- 

 ing into general nse, in the United States, for furniture, as 

 well as for the interior finishing of houses. 



The Black walnut has strong claims upon the Landscape 

 Gardener, as it is one of the grandest and most massive trees 

 which he can employ. Wlien full grown, it is scarcely in- 

 ferior in the boldness of its ramification, or the amplitude of 

 its head, to the oak or the chestnut ; and what it lacks in 

 spirited outline when compared with those trees, is fully com- 

 pensated, in our estimation, by its superb and heavy masses 

 of foliage, which catch and throw off the broad lights and 

 shadows in the finest manner. When the Black walnut 

 stands alone on a deep fertile soil, it becomes a truly majes- 

 tic tree ; and its lower branches often sweep the ground in a 

 pleasing curve, which gives additional beauty to its whole 

 expression. It is admirably adapted to extensive lawns? 

 parks, or plantations, where there is no want of room for the 

 attainment of its full size and fair proportions. Its rapid 

 growth and umbrageous foliage also recommend it for pub- 

 lic streets and avenues. 



The European walnut, [J. regia,) or as it is generally 

 termed here, the Madeira nut, is one of the most common 

 cultivated trees of Europe, where it was introduced originally 

 from Persia. It differs from our Black walnut, (which how- 

 ever it much resembles,) in the smooth gray bark of the 

 stem, the leaves composed of three or four pair of leaflets, and 

 in the very thin-shelled fruit, which, though not exceed- 

 ing the Black walnut in size, yet contains a much larger 

 kernel, which is generally considered more delicate in fla- 

 vour. In the interior of France, orchards of the walnut are 

 planted, and a considerable commerce is carried on in its 



