THE WALNUT 85 



miraculous Walnut-tree of Glastonbury belonged. 

 It grew in the Abbey yard, on the north side of 

 St. Joseph's chapel, and is stated to have never 

 budded until the feast of St. Barnabas, June lltb, 

 but to have always burst into leaf on that day. 

 This variety, however, ripens its fruit almost as 

 early as the other kinds. 



The leaves consist of from five to nine leaflets, 

 that is, of two, three, or four pairs and one ter- 

 minal one; the whole often exceeding a foot in. 

 length. The apical leaflets are generally the larger, 

 and they have all an oval outline with a somewhat 

 produced point, and a very slightly notched or 

 serrate margin. The leaves are perfectly smooth, 

 though not possessing the lustrous gloss of those 

 of the Spanish Chestnut. They are of a peculiar 

 shade of green with a good deal of yellow in it, 

 "which makes a pleasingly cheerful contrast with 

 the foliage of most other trees. In hot weather, 

 or when bruised, they give out a powerful aromatic 

 smell which is said to produce drowsiness or even 

 nausea. Like the roots, the young bark, aind the 

 unripe husk of the fruit, the leaves contain astrin- 

 gent matter producing a dark brown dye, which 

 does not require mordants. This dye — which is used 

 by gipsies to stain the skin, and by cabinet-makers 

 to make lighter woods resemble Walnut — can be 

 removed from the fingers, when unintentionally 

 ^applied, by means of salt. 



The pendulous male, or staminate, catkins are 

 produced singly from the apex of leafless shoots 

 of the previous years, this being one of the main 



