THE BLACK WALNUT 
far before the Ailanthus — formerly im- 
ported in such numbers and valued a- 
mong us because an exotic. The smell 
of the Ailanthus flower is as disagreeable 
as that of the Walnut leaf is pleasant, 
and the roots of our tree do not sucker 
like those of the Ailanthus. Plantations 
of young trees are sometimes made in 
this country for the sake of the wood 
and the nuts, but in the main farmers 
are unwilling to wait twenty years for 
their reward and trees do not fruit well 
until of this age, while for timber a still 
longer time is necessary. The 
young trees are not easy to trans- 
plant and are mostly raised from 
seeds sown where they are to re- 
main. When planted for orna- 
ment, one of the most important 
uses of the Black Walnut is to give 
variety to parks and shady places. 
The forests of Europe are largely 
composed of a few species, where- 
as in the temperate regions of 
North America the number of dis- 
tinct forest trees is large. Ourmany 
kinds of Oak, Chestnut, and Hick- 
ory ; our Tulip- trees and our Mag- 
noHas, our Locusts, Gum-trees and 
Poplars, Beeches and Birches, Ashes and 
Maples, with a host of smaller trees and 
shrubs, to say nothing of many noble 
Walnut furniture was in great esteem ; 
now it is voted dull and dark, while the 
popular fancy has turned to Mahogany, 
Bird's-eye Maple, and Oak. It is still 
much used however for interior finish- 
ing, hardwood floors, and for all kinds 
of work entailing exposure to weather. 
For rough outdoor wear it is as good 
as Oak, and without its tendency to 
warp and crack. In my own house 
the woodwork of one floor, including 
doors and window-frames, is Black 
Walnut, as are also the stairs. The 
evergreens. 
give 
a character of fine di- 
versity to the American forest. And 
among themall the Black Walnut stands 
forth worthily, with its immense leaves, 
its spreading head, its clear light ver- 
dure and its stately form. 
^ ^ The wood ofthe Black Walnut 
is very hard and rich dark 
brown in colour. Twenty-five years ago 
Leaf and Fruit of the Black Walnut. 
wood gains a richer tone with age, but 
if fully seasoned and oiled its colour 
is from the first almost equal to that 
of old Oak after centuries of wear. 
This gives it a special value in restoring 
old interiors, working well and easy to 
carve. The roots are used as gun- 
stocks and as veneer, and the heavier 
branches as naves for wheels. There 
is, in fact, no drawback to its use, 
unless it be its low value as a fuel, and 
in timber so much used in dwellings 
this is perhaps rather an added merit. 
