i64 THE TREE BOOK 



tree. The Greeks and Eomans believed the wal- 

 nut a symbol of good luck, and walnuts were 

 always scattered at their weddings. But, like 

 many trees once reverenced, the walnut finally 

 fell into evil repute. The foliage of a certain 

 walnut tree in Rome became "peopled "with 

 demons," and Pope Paschal II had the tree cut 

 down, and a church built where it stood. Soon 

 the shade of the tree was thought unwholesome 

 to men and plants. People were supported in 

 their belief because of the fact that nothing 

 seemed to thrive under a walnut tree. No 

 doubt the reason of this is because of the 

 astringent properties of the decaying leaves and 

 nut shells. Our forefathers believed that wal- 

 nuts should never be gathered by hand, lest the 

 tree die. Also no one dared to plant a walnut 

 near an oak ; for the latter would surely wither. 

 Time was when the black walnut and its cou- 

 sin the white walnut, or butternut, were plenti- 

 ful in our woodlands. Now we may search in 

 vain for them. For the relentless hand of the 

 chopper has whisked them away to be made into 

 furniture or for the interior finishing in houses. 

 Agents from the lumber companies have scoured 

 the forest here and there until scarcely a tree 

 of any size is left. At the present time, in many 

 woodlands, the young walnut trees that have 



