56 THE TREES OF AMERICA. 



cookery and for lamps." The wood is much used for the manufacture of furni- 

 ture, and for posts, for which it is said to be very durable. On account of its 

 certain and rapid growth from the seed, its beauty as a shade tree, and its value 

 in other respects, we would recommend its cultivation. The fresh nuts planted in 

 the fall will come up in the following spring. It is best to plant them on the top 

 of the soil, covering them with two or three inches of leaves or rubbish. We 

 have used spent tan bark for this purpose. 



The Butternut or Oilnut tree — Juglans cinerea — belongs to this genus. This 

 is a beautiful, rapid-growing tree, and well worthy of cultivation. When plant- 

 ed upon moderately rich soil, composed mostly of vegetable mould, it soon makes 

 quite a large tree. We would for this reason recommend it to those who wish 

 to have the benefit of shade trees as soon as possible after planting. Mr. Tudor 

 has one of this species at Nahant which in five years from the nut has made a 

 tree ten feet in height, and sixteen and a half in spread of branches. This tree 

 has been managed in the same manner as his other trees. A description of this 

 method we have given in another part of this work. The fruit of the butternut, 

 when carefully dried, says Emerson, is sweet and very pleasant. Several kinds 

 of dyes are made of the bark and the nut shells, such as purple, brown, and 

 black. The nuts, when half grown, make excellent pickles. The wood is used 

 for gun stocks, posts and rails for fences, wooden bowls, drawer fronts, panels 

 for coaches and carriages, &c. It is very valuable for these and like purposes, 

 as it is light, tough, and durable. 



