DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. ]91 



eight pairs of opposite leaflets, terminated by an odd one 

 They contain a very strong aromatic odor, which is emitted 

 plentifully when they are bruised. The large nut, always 

 borne on the extremity of the young shoots, is round, and 

 covered with a thick husk ; which, instead of separating 

 into pieces, and falling off" like those of the hickory, rots 

 away and decays gradually. The kernel of the Black 

 walnut, too well known to need any description here, is 

 highly esteemed, and is even considered by some persons 

 to possess a finer flavor than any other walnut. 



The timber of this tree is very valuable : when well sea- 

 soned it is as durable as the White oak, and is less liable 

 to the attacks of sea- worms, etc., than almost any other ; it 

 is, therefore, highly esteemed in naval architecture for 

 certain purposes. But its great value is in cabinet work. 

 Its color, when exposed to the air, is a fine, rich, dark 

 brown, beautifully veined in certain parts ; and as it takes 

 a brilliant polish, it is coming into general use in the 

 United States for furniture, as well as for the interioi 

 finishing of houses. 



The Black walnut has strong claims upon the Landscape 

 Gardener, as it is one of the grandest and most massive 

 trees which he can employ. When full grown it is scarcely 

 inferior in the boldness of its ramification or the amplitude 

 of its head to the oak or chestnut ; and what it lacks in 

 spirited outline when compared with those trees, is fully 

 compensated, in our estimation, by its superb and heavy 

 masses of foliage, which catch and throw off" the broad 

 lights and shadows in the finest manner. When the Black 

 walnut stands alone on a deep fertile soil it becomes a truly 

 majestic . tree ; and its lower branches often sweep the 

 ground in a graceful curve, which gives additional beauty 

 to its whol e expression. It is admirably adapted to exten- 



