THE WALNUT. 197 



CHAPTER XXV. 

 The Walnut. 



THE WALNUT (Juglans regia) is a native of Persia and 

 Asia Minor, and a deciduous tree of noble habit when full 

 grown. The Grecians apparently introduced it from its 

 native habitat, and cultivated it extensively under the name 

 of the " Royal Nut." From thence it was introduced to 

 Italy in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius ; and the nuts 

 were, says Pliny, honoured with the name of " Jupiter's 

 Nuts." They were evidently highly esteemed by the 

 Romans, for, says Pliny, "The more walnuts one eats 

 with more ease will he drive worms out of his stomach, 

 and that, eaten before meals, they lessen the effects of 

 any poisonous food; eaten after onions, they keep them 

 from rising, and prevent the disagreeable smell." The 

 exact date of the introduction into England is not known, 

 but a writer named Turner remarks in 1551 : " It is so 

 well knowen in all countries that I nede not to describe." 

 Gerarde, at the close' of the same century, wrote: " The 

 Walnut tree groweth in fields neere common highwaies, in 

 a fat and fruitful ground, and in orchards." It is said 

 that in excavating the soil for the foundations of the Royal 

 Exchange, the shell of a walnut was unearthed 35ft. below 

 the surface, so that the Romans may have first introduced 

 the tree here. 



At the present day one or more fine old trees are grown 

 in most old gardens or orchards, and the nuts are held in 

 high esteem in a ripe state for dessert, also in a green state 

 for pickling. In fact, a large and fruitful tree is a source 

 of considerable revenue to many a cottager and farmer. 

 The Walnut would doubtless be grown more extensively 

 than it is if it were not for the fact that it is so liable to 

 injury by spring frosts and severe winters, and cannot 



