DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 165 



products, consisting chiefly of the fruit, of which large quanti- 

 ties are consumed in all parts of Europe. The wood is great- 

 ly used in the manufacture of gun-stocks, and in cabinet- 

 making ; (though it is much inferior to the American walnut 

 wood for this purpose ;) and the oil extracted from the ker- 

 nel, is in high estimation for mixing with delicate colours 

 used in painting, and other purposes. 



The European walnut is a noble tree in size, and thickly 

 clad in foliage. It is much esteemed as a shade-tree by the 

 Dutch ; and Evelyn, who is an enthusiastic admirer of its 

 beauties, mentions their fondness for this tree as in the high- 

 est degree praiseworthy. " The Bergstras, [Bergstrasse\ 

 which extends from Heidelberg to Darmstadt, is all planted 

 with walnuts ; for as by an ancient law, the Borderers 

 were obliged to nurse up and take care of them, and that 

 chiefly for their ornament and shade, so as a man may ride 

 for many miles about that country, under a continual arbour 

 or close walk, — the traveller both refreshed with the fruit 

 and shade. How much such public plantations improve the 

 glory and wealth of a nation ! In several places betwixt 

 Hanau and Frankfort in Germany, no young farmer is per- 

 mitted to marry a wife till he bring proof that he hath plant- 

 ed, and is the father of a stated number of walnut trees."* 



The nuts are imported into this country in great quan- 

 tities ; and as they are chiefly brought from Spain and 

 the Madeiras, they are here almost entirely known by the 

 name of the Madeira nut. The tree is but little cultiva- 

 ted among us, though highly deserving more extensive fa- 

 vour, both on account of its value and beauty. It grows 

 well in the climate of the middle states, and bears freely ; a 

 specimen eighteen or twenty years old, in the garden of the 



* Hunter's Evelyn, p. 16S. 



