WALNUT. 347 



farmer to plant a single walnut-tree on the same occasion, 

 we should neither want gunstocks for our wars, nor walnuts 

 for our weddings. Where young trees are not to be pro- 

 cured easily, let a walnut be planted ; and with what de- 

 light will the mother watch the progress of her infant's 

 tree, until the child can take the charge from her 



A walnut-tree, which was planted in the garden of 

 Mrs. Maxwell, of Terraughtie, by her present gardener 

 about twelve years ago, produced this last season a pretty 

 full crop of walnuts, which, for flavour and size, are be- 

 lieved to be little, if any thing, inferior to the same kind 

 of fruit grown in the south of England. 



There are at this time seven walnut-trees growing in a 

 little meadow at Greenwich, not exceeding three quarters 

 of an acre of land, the fruit of which has been sold, for 

 some years past, to one person at thirty pounds per annum. 

 The owner of these trees refused a thousand guineas for 

 the timber during the late war ; and we observed, that the 

 grass did not seem in the least injured by the shade of the 

 trees, which are of a great bulk, but carry their branches 

 high from the ground. We were somewhat surprised, 

 and greatly pleased to learn, that these trees, which have 

 no other fence than an indifferent hedge, have never been 

 robbed of their fruit by the idle boys of that populous 

 neighbourhood. 



Evelyn says in his Sylva, " How would such plantations 

 improve the glory and wealth of a nation ! But where 

 shall we find the spirits among our countiy ? Yes, I will 

 adventure to instance in those plantations of Sir Richard 

 Stidolrjh, upon the Down, near Leatherhead in Surrey ; 

 Sir Robert Clayton, at Marden, near Godstone, and as 

 about Cassaulton, where many thousands of these trees 

 do celebrate the industry of the owners, and will certainly 

 reward it with infinite improvement, as I am assured they 

 do already, and that very considerably ; besides the orna- 



