THE WALNUT. 71 
dig under and cut the tap-root. Fruit-trees that do not 
bear may also be made to do so by cutting their main or 
tap roots. Mr. Hollenbeck has a grove of forty acres of 
walnut, planted in 1865, and the trees average twenty- 
seven inches in circumference and are thirty-five feet 
high. Many of them bore nuts four years after plant- 
ing, and six years from planting the trees had a peck of 
nuts each. Three bushels of nuts with the hulls on will 
plant an acre four feet apart, or one and three quarter 
bushels hulled will plant the same amount of land. 
The walnut is a native of the mountains of Asia, from 
the Caucasus almost to China. It is supposed to be the 
Enoz of the Bible. The Greeks had it from Asia; and 
Nicander, Theophrastus, and others mention it under the 
names of Carya basilike (or royal nut). Pliny informs 
us that it was introduced into Italy from Persia, an in- 
troduction which must have been of early date, for, al- 
though it be doubtful whether it be alluded to by Cato, 
it is certainly mentioned by Varro, who was born in the 
year 116 nc. The Romans called it Vuxe Persica, Nuw 
Regia, Nux euboca, Jovis glans, Dinglans, Juglans, etc. 
They recognized several varieties, and among them the 
soft-shelled walnut is still cultivated, which several of 
the commentators have confounded with the peach. In 
modern days the cultivation has been extended, and the 
number of varieties considerably increased. Jean Bau- 
hin noticed six only. Micheli, under Cosmo III. of Med- 
ici, describes thirty-seven, of which the original speci- 
mens are still preserved; some of these, however, are 
with difficulty distinguished from each other. 
THE BLACK WALNUT. 
This tree is found in the Atlantic States and the Mis- 
sissippi Valley, in most places where the soil is deep and 
rich. It is also found in Illinois, but where it once ranked 
in that state with the ash and hickory, and was very 
abundant, it has now become scarce. 
