188 The Butternut. 



ed to the shoots of the preceeding year; the fertile flowers, on the 

 contrary, come out on the shoots of the same spring, and are sit' 

 uated at the extremity. The ovarium is crowned by two rose- 

 colored stigmas. The fruit is commonly single, and suspended 

 by a thin, pliable peduncle, about three inches in length; its form 

 is oblong-oval without any appearance of seam. It is often two 

 and a half inches in length, and five inches in circumference, and 

 is covered with a viscid adhesive substance, composed of small 

 transparent vesicles, which are easily discerned with the aid of a 

 lens. The nuts are hard, oblong, rounded at the base, and ter- 

 minated at the summit, in an acute point; the surface is very rough, 

 and deeply and irregularly furrowed. They are ripe from the 

 middle to the end of September, a fortnight earlier than the other 

 species of walnut. The kernel is thick and oily, and soon be- 

 comes rancid; hence, doubtless, are derived the names of Oil nut 

 and Butternut. 



The black walnut and butternut, when young, resemble each 

 other in "their foliage, and in the rapidity of their growth; but 

 when arrived at maturity, their forms are so different, as to be 

 distinguishable at first sight. Remarkable peculiarities are also 

 found, on examining their wood, especially when seasoned; the 

 black walnut is heavy, strong, and of a dark brown color; while 

 the butternut is light, of little strength, and of a reddish hue; but 

 they possess in common, the great advantage of durability, and of 

 being secure from the annoyance of worms. From its want of 

 solidity and from the difficulty of procuring pieces of considerable 

 length, the timber of the butternut is seldom used in the construc- 

 tion of houses. As it long resists the effects of heat and moisture, 

 it is esteemed for the posts and rails of rural fence. For corn 

 shovels and wooden dishes, it is preferred to the red-flowering 

 maple, because it is lighter and less liable to split. In Vermont, 

 it is used for the panels of coaches and chaises; the workmen 

 find it excellently adapted to this object, not only from its lightness, 

 but because it is not liable to spht, and receives paint in a superior 

 manner. 



The medicinal properties of the butternut bark, have long since 

 been proved, by several eminent physicians of the United States. 

 An extract in water, or even a decoction sweetened with honey, 

 is acknowledged to be one of the best cathartics afforded by ma- 

 teria medica; its purgative operation is always sure, and unattend- 

 ed, in the most delicate constitutions, with pain or irritation. Ex- 

 perience has shown that it produces the best effects in many cases 

 of dysentery. It is commonly given in the form of pills, and to 

 adults, in doses from half a dram to a dram. It is not however in 



