XXXVIL 
THE WALNUT. 
Watnut.—The Juglans or walnut tree belongs to Monecia 
polyandria in the Linnezan system, and to Juglandacee in the 
natural order of plants. The flowers of the genus are uni- 
sexual, and both sexes are produced by one plant. Several 
species are cultivated in the British nurseries. They are deci- 
duous trees, of large growth, yielding valuable timber, and the 
common species is much esteemed on account of its fruit. 
J. Regia (.), the Royal or Common Walnut, is a native of 
Persia, and one of our earliest introduced fruit trees, having 
been in cultivation in England since the middle of the six- 
teenth century. It forms a large spreading tree, which 
blossoms in May, and ripens its fruit during the following 
autumn. 
It is propagated from the nuts or seed, which usually part 
with their outer husks on becoming ripe and falling from the 
tree. They vegetate during the first season, and may be sown 
in winter or early in spring; they should be planted a few 
inches apart in drills, with a cover about two inches deep. 
As the crop is very apt to be injured by any degree of frost 
after the plants appear above the surface, the drills should be 
protected by twigs of spruce or silver fir, or some other cover. 
It is necessary to raise the seedling plants in a dry early soil, 
otherwise they will not mature their shoots sufficiently to 
endure frost. Dry sandy soil, although poor, is preferable for 
" young plants to soil of a more fertile description. In the latter 
the largest plants are produced, but unless the climate or the 
season is very superior the first winter deprives them of their 
tops. The seedling plants form strong tap-roots ; therefore, to 
