The Walnut Tree 



is so valuable as it is universally esteemed to be. The 

 wood, after a short exposure to the air, assumes a dark 

 shade, aud in time becomes darker than the oldest and 

 darkest mahogany; and hence, certainly, it has derived 

 the name of Black H^ahmt. This wood remains sound 

 during a great length of time, even if exposed to the 

 influence of heat and moisture. The proof of its great 

 durability is, that farmers frequently use it for posts in the 

 fences that surround their fields. It is very strong and very 

 tenacious ; when thoroughly seasoned not liable to warp or 

 split, and its grain is sufficiently fine and compact to admit 

 of a beautiful polish, to which advantage it adds that of re- 

 maining always secure from worms. The timber is used 

 in the building of house?, in the making of gun stocks, and 

 in the making of naves for wheels. Michaux says that this 

 tree is excellently adapted to certain uses in naval architec- 

 ture; that it affords, not only an abundance of knees, which 

 are so much wanted in ship building ; but, that, it enters 

 into the frame of the ship also. He says, that it is not 

 attacked by sea worms in warm latitudes, as the Oak is ; 

 he says that he has seen canoes of it, scooped out of a single 

 trunk more than forty feet long. In comparing it with the 

 European Walnut, he says, that the wood of the Black 

 Walnut is more compact, heavier, and much stronger ; 

 that it is susceptible of a finer polish, and that, it is not, like 

 the European Walnut, liable to be injured by worms. He 

 adds one indubitable proof of the high esteem in which the 

 wood is held in the native country of the tree ; namely, 

 that it has been spared by the farmers in America) and spare 

 it, they would not, if they wanted the fire-wood that it 

 contained, or the land that it grew on, unless they regarded 

 the wood as of extraordinary value. 



556. As to the quickness of growth, as conij^ared with 



