222 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



was introduced from the east in very early times, and is now 

 abundant throughout middle and southern Europe. The 

 wood is valued by cabinet-makers for its beautiful veining 

 and dark colour. An oil is extracted from the nuts equal to 

 olive oil, which is greatly used by painters, and forms a con- 

 siderable article of trade. 



The nutty part of the walnut eaten is the two seed-lobes 

 or cotyledons, which are crumpled up in the shell. Although 

 a considerable quantity of walnuts are produced in this 

 country, they nevertheless fall far short of the demand, large 

 quantities being imported from France, Belgium, Holland, 

 the Two Sicilies, and other places. 



Black Walnut {Juglans nigra). A large tree, native of 

 North America. It is much valued on account of its wood, 

 which is prized for making gun-stocks. 



Hickory nut {Gary a alba). A large tree of North 

 America, yielding the white hickory nut, which is greatly 

 eaten in the United States, and occasionally imported into 

 this country. 



Picary nut {Gary a olivcBformis). A tree, native of the 

 south and western States of North America, the nut of 

 which is considered a great delicacy. A small quantity has 

 occasionally been imported from New Orleans. 



Pterocarya caucasica. Is a large tree, native of the 

 Caucasus. A plant was received at Kew about forty years 

 ago, which is now a handsome spreading branched tree, 12 

 feet high, with a girth of stem of 2 J feet. It differs from the 

 walnut in having a winged fruit. 



Fortu7iea Chinensis. Is a curious plant of the family, 

 native of China, introduced by Mr. Fortune about twenty 

 years ago. A plant at Kew, 3 to 4 feet high, had the habit 

 of a small tree with winged leaves, like a small-leaved ash ; 

 it produced female flowers, which consist of imbricated scales, 

 forming a firm cone-like catkin, each scale bearing in its 

 axis a small 1-seeded 2-winged nut. 



