THE WALKUT. 225 



Synonyms . 



Juglans oilonga alba, Marshall. 



Juglans cathartica, Michanx. 



Carya cathartica, Barton, 1818. 



Wallia cinerea, Alefeld, 1861. 



Varieties of the Butternut. — There are to be 

 found many varieties of the butternut, varying mainly 

 in the size of the nuts, and only slightly in the thickness 

 of the shell ; but I am not aware that any of these have 

 ever been propagated, all the trees in cultivation or else- 

 where having been grown from the nuts. This nut is, 

 no doubt, susceptible of great improvement, as well as 

 others of the genus, and it is worthy of being experi- 

 mented with for that purpose, especially in cold, north- 

 ern climates, where there are few or no other kinds of 

 edible nuts. Probably the most, direct and surest way 

 to secure improved varieties is by hybridizing, taking 

 the butternut for the female parent, and the Persian 

 walnut for the male. Hybrids between these two species 

 are already known, and they will, no doubt, become 

 more plentiful as soon as skillful horticulturists are en- 

 couraged to produce them. Several hybrid walnuts of 

 other species are figured and described by European hor- 

 ticulturists, but, so far as known, they are mainly acci- 

 dental productions, and not the result of any direct 

 effort of man; nature, in this instance, merely giving a 

 hint of the possible, leaving us to avail ourselves of the 

 lesson if we feel so inclined. 



J. Le Conte, in a list of four hundred and fifty 

 plants, collected by him on the island of N"ew York 

 (Manhattan), and published in the "Medical and Philo- 

 sophical Register," Vol. II, 1812, mentions a hybrid 

 walnut among the number. Dr. John Torrey, in "Cat- 

 alogue of Plants," etc., 1819, refers to this tree under 

 the name of Juglans hylrida, and says that it is grow- 

 ing near where Eighth avenue intersects the road called 

 15 



