VOl,.  XXXIV.  No.  1.5. 
VVHOliE  No.  1.193.  t 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  OCT.  7,  1S76. 
I  PRICE  sa 
I  «‘i..50  PK 
.  CENTS 
YEAR. 
CRntered  Kccordlnsr  to  Act  of  Conitro'js,  In  tho  year  tW,  hy  the  Knnil  PubllshlnR  Company,  *  .  Mm  offlco  of  tlio  T.lbnirian  of  ConitrosH  ni  WaBhlnKton.i 
l^rtroiicuttitral, 
WALNUTS  AND  HICKORY-NUTS. 
From  tho  timo  when  the  NIj  tholngical  Gods 
were  supposed  to  reign  and  hold  the  destiny  of 
tho  liunian  race  in  tlieir  hands,  the  nut-hoaring 
trees  and  shrubs  have  boon  liighly  valued  iii  tlio 
Eastern  Hemisphere.  Indeed,  the  Walnut  of 
f.  • 
Fro,  2. 
Europe  was  considered  in  earlier  times  so  good 
and  valuable  that  it  was  dedicated  to  Jove,  and 
thua  caiUQ  tho  botanical  namo  of  tho  genus  to 
which  it  belongs,  viz.,  Juglans,  from  ./hut's  yto«.s, 
the  nut  of  Jove,  it  being  considered  food  fit 
for  tliis  much-worsliipped  God  of  the  ancienhs. 
However  ranch  wo  might  question  the  taste  of 
a  people  who  extolled  the  Walnut  ho  highly,  wc 
have  only  to  remember  that  it  is  not  many  gene¬ 
rations  ago  that  Acorns  were  considered  very 
good  food,  for  comnion  foUrs  at  least,  and  Acorn 
Bread  was  far  from  being  a  I'arity  in  Groat 
Britain.  Bnt  as  we  have  no  mythological  history 
to  fall  back  upon  in  throwing  a  lialo  of  glory 
ahont  tho  products  of  our  own  nut  -  hearing 
tree.s,  necessity  compels  us  to  base  all  pniise  of 
them  upon  actual  worth,  which,  by  the  way.  is 
rapidly  becoming,  with  Americans,  the  criterion 
for  judging  of  all  tilings  terrestrial. 
Tho  effects  of  cultivation  upon  any  species  of 
tree  or  other  plant  are  alw.ays  seen  in  the  varia¬ 
tions  of  seedlings  raised  therefrom,  and  this  has 
been  tlie  result  of  long  domestica¬ 
tion  in  the  European  Walnut  {Jug- 
lane  regia).  For  thousands  of  years, 
as  we  have  said,  this  nut  has  been 
highly  prized  by  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Old  World,  and  millions  of  its 
seedlings  have  been  raised  during  y 
tho  period  named.  With  tho  natm-al 
tendency  of  ail  plants  to  vary,  it 
would  have  been  singular  if  some 
really  choice  and  distinct  varieties 
of  this  nut  had  not  been  produced 
during  its  long  domestication,  and 
under  the  circmustances  we  might 
have  expected  a  greater  number. 
There  are,  however,  some  excellent 
sorts  which  are  well  worthy  the  at- 
tention  of  tho  residents  of  our  Mid- 
die  and  Southern  States,  and  per- 
haps  those  iu  favorable  locations  at 
the  Northern.  ^ 
Tile  common  English  Walnut 
thiives  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York 
Gity,  hut  while  some  of  the  trees  are 
very  productive,  others  [are  almost 
or  totally  barren,  this  difference 
probably  being  due  to  protection 
from  northerly  winds  and  to  favora¬ 
ble  or  unfavorable  soils.  In  the 
Middle  States  no  snob  variations,  we  believe,  are 
ohseiwod,  and  there  are  no  good  reasons  why 
largo  ])lanta(ionH  nf  these  nuts  could  not  bo 
made  with  fair  prosiiects  of  success  and  reninno- 
raiive  returns  on  the  investments. 
Tho  number  of  varieties  known  in  Europe  is, 
as  we  have  said,  quite  huge ;  hut  for  a  com¬ 
mencement  oiir  farmers  niul  arboriculturists 
would  probably  not  care  to  experiment  with 
only  a  amall  number.  In  a  late  issno  of  tho 
London  Garden  wo  find  an  oxhanstivo  article  on 
tho  “  European  Walnut  and  its  varieties,”  from 
which  we  copy  throe  of  the  accompanying  illus¬ 
trations. 
Tlio  largest  of  all  tlio  varieties  yet  produced  is 
known  as  the  Oihhous’  Walnut  (Juglans  regia 
gibbosfl).  Fig.  1.  In  Fig.  2  tho  samo  variety  is 
shown  with  the  outer  husk  removed.  Tho  tree 
is  descrilied  as  having  a  very  straight  stem, 
covered  with  an  ashy-gray  bark.  Tho  branches 
arc  thick,  with  tho  bark  of  a  shiny  surface  and  a 
ruddy  brown  hue.  sjiccklcd  with  elongated  strife. 
Tho  rind  of  this  nut  is  thinnish  and  marked 
toward  the  base  with  ashy  -  gray  olovatious, 
which,  toward  the  top  of  the  fruit,  become-  so 
crowded  togotlior  as  to  give  it  sumo  rcsoiublanco 
to  our  common  Black  Walnut  {Juglans  nigra). 
The  shell  is  thick  and  hard  to  tho  touch,  and 
'  deeply  corrugated.  Tho  llavur  of  this  variety  is 
excellent  and  tho  kernel  easily  extraebid  from 
tho  shell ;  but,  like  all  tho  hard  varletie.s,  tlui 
shell  is  thick  and  Ihoro  is  an  inner  deposit  which 
considerably  reduces  tho  size  of  tho  kernel.  We 
do  not  know  whether  this  rather  remarkable  va¬ 
riety  has  been  as  yet  introduced  into  this  coun¬ 
try,  hut  presume  it  will  bo  cro  long. 
The  Variegated  Walnut  (./.  regia  rnriegala)  is 
another  romarkahlc  variety.  The  young  branch¬ 
es  are  cfivcred  with  a  dark-groou  bark,  spotted 
with  gray  find  striped  longitmlin.i.Ily  with  yellow. 
Tho  rind  of  the  nut  is  also  slightly  strified  with 
two  shades  of  greeri.  Tho  nut  is  said  to  he  ex¬ 
cellent  in  flavor  and  tho  shell  very  thin.  In  ad¬ 
dition  to  tlu!  above  there  aro  sovoral  other  largo 
French  sorts  of  excellent  quality.  Among  the 
most  noted  of  Ujoho  wo  may  name  tho  Noix 
-Meyette,  Franquotte,  8t.  Jean,  Chabert,  Parisi- 
enne,  and  Ootagomi. 
Thousands  of  bushels  of  what  are  termed  En¬ 
glish  Walnuts  or  Madeira-nuts  are  annually  im¬ 
ported,  and  we  know  of  no  good  reason  why, 
with  our  wide  diver.sity  of  climates  and  soils,  this 
should  continue  for  another  eentnry,  as  it  has 
during  the  past,  for  at  least  some  of  tho  many 
varietie.s  of  this  nut  might  be  raised  in  abun¬ 
dance  if  the  trees  were  planted. 
Of  our  own  species  of  nnts  belonging  (aocord- 
ing  to  late  botanical  classilleation)  to  tho  genus 
Juglans,  the  common  Black  Walnut  (./.  nigra), 
and  tho  Butternut  {J.  oinerea),  little  can  bo  said 
beyond  wliat  is  generally  known  to  ovfirybody. 
The  first  is  a  noble  tree,  valued  mainly  for  its 
wood,  which  is  used  for  uiakiiig  rurnituro  and 
inside  finish  for  dwellings.  The  nuts  have  such 
a  strong,  rank  Haver  that  few  persons  find  thoin 
agreeable.  The  lattor,  or  Butternut,  is  not  quite 
so  highly  valued  for  its  wood,  although  it  is  ex¬ 
tensively  employed  for  tho  same  purposes  as  tho 
former,  but  the  nuts  havo  a  sweet,  rich  flavor, 
nud  aro  generally  appreciated  by  the  residents 
in  regions  where  tlioy 
abound.  The  shell  is  so 
thick  and  hard,  requir¬ 
ing  a  smart  lilow  to 
crack  it,  that  the  nut 
does  not  meet  with  so 
ready  a  sale  in  our  city 
markols  as  it  would  if  it 
were  different  in  this  re¬ 
spect. 
HICKORY-NUrS. 
Tho  oarlior  hotauiats 
placed  tho  Hickories  iu 
the  same  genus  as  the 
European  Walnuts,  our 
Black  Walnut  and  Bnt^ 
teriuit ;  bat  later  antlioritles  have  divided  tho 
genus  Juglans,  giving  to  the  former  section  tho 
iiaine  of  Carya,  which  oemes  from  tho  ancient 
Greek  namo  of  the  Walnut. 
The  Hickories  not  having  been  cultivated  to 
any  considerable  extent  in  tills  or  any  other 
country  for  their  fruit,  wo  have  in  consoquoneo 
few  very  distinct  sorts  of  any  of  the  half-a-dozon 
or  more  iiulivo  species,  still  an  occasional  ouo 
Inas  been  found,  and  could  onr  gardeners  dis¬ 
cover  some  nuidy  moans  of  propagating  them, 
wo  would  soon  have  Hickory-nut  orchards  iu 
abundance,  fur  the  best  of  thoso  already  known 
are  second  to  none  of  the  most  valiiahle  varieties 
of  tlie  European  Walnut.  In  fact,  the  nuts  of 
two  native  species  as  found  growing  wild  in  the 
forests,  the  Pecan-nut  {Carya  olince  fornris)  and 
the  Shell-hark  or  White  Walnut  {0.  alba)  ax'o 
ammally  gathered  and  sold  by  the  thousands  of 
bushels,  and  but  fow  persons  would  exchange 
them  for  any  foreign  variety  of  Walnut. 
The  commou  Pocan-nut  is  well  known  tiud  is 
usually  to  bs  found  during  winter  in  every  city 
and  village  market.  Tho  trees  grow  wild  in 
moist,  rich  lauds  all  over  the  Southern  States 
and  as  far  north  iu  tho  Western  as  the  southern 
G IJBKO  O S’  WALIN'  UT. - (Fig-. 
part  of  Illinois.  There  are,  it  appears,  many 
wild  varieties,  some  double  tho  size  of  others, 
and  tho  form  and  tho  thickness  of  tho  shell  aro 
also  quite  variable. 
One  of  the  most  remarkable  varieties  which 
has  corno  under  onr  iiotieo  is  one  found  near 
Now  Orloaiis,  Ln.,  a  few  years  since,  and  for 
sjieoimens  of  whieli  we  arc  indebted  to  James  II. 
llUMMEr.,  F.sq.,  piihlisher  of  Our  Home  Journal, 
of  the  ahovo-named  city.  This  variety  is  nearly 
ihiiilile  tho  size  of  those  usually  found  in  market 
and  of  an  irregular  . 
form  (as  shown  iu 
somewhat"  flatten- 
od  on  one  side,  it  -  |k|\lL;  V  \)  lU 
with  aeulo, elevated  ’  j|y  q  \ 
ridges  running  WlA  \ 
from  t h e  ii  p  p o  r  wi®  ' /if 
point  to  base.  Tlio  ^ 
shell  is  slightly 
thicker  than  tho  NfKypjj'l, 
ordinary  varieties, 
hut  tho  kernel  is 
large,  line-flavored, 
and  it  is  altogether 
a  remarkahlo  nut, 
worthy  of  preser- 
vatlon  and  jiropa-  / J) 
gallon.  ■■  . 
Tho  next  species 
of  Hickory  mnst 
valued  for  its  ex- 
collent  flavored  Fio.  4. 
nuts  is  onr  common  Shell-bark,  which  also  varies 
greatly  iu  the  size  anil  thickness  of  tho  shell  in 
tliffoi-ont  soils  aiul  regions  of  country,  still  all 
arc  readily  distinguished  from  other  species  by 
their  thinner  and  lighter  -  colored  shoUa  and 
sweeter  -  flavored  kernels.  In  our  many  years’ 
search  for  iieculiar  or  choice  sorts  of  those  nuts, 
none  have  been  found  poHso.ssing  more  valuable 
qualities  or  that  were  more  disLirict  in  appear¬ 
ance  tlian  the  “  Hales  Paper-shell,”  bo  named 
by  us  and  described  in  the  Ruuai,  New-Yorkek 
of  Nov.  lU,  1870.  Tho  original  tree  of  this  ro- 
markahlo  variety  Is  now  growing  upon  tho 
groiiiiils  of  Mr.  Henry  IIai.ks,  near  Ridgewood, 
N.  J.,  and  is  probably  not  less  than  soventy-flve 
years  old.  Tho  stem  of  the  tree  is  sixty  or  more 
feet  ill  bight  and  some  four  feet  in  eircumfer- 
enoo  at  the  base.  The  nuts  tUlTor  from  tho  or¬ 
dinary  Wliell-harkH  by  not  having  any  regular 
corrugations  running  from  base  to  point,  nor 
auy  sharp  angles,  a.s  usually  found  upon  tho 
shell  of  this  species,  hut  tho  surface  is  broken 
up  into  small  dopressioiis,  giving  it 
an  appearance  very  siiuUar  to  tho 
Eiu-opeaii  Walnut.  In  fact,  had  any 
one  tried  to  produce  a  hybrid  be¬ 
tween  tho  two  species  and  obtained 
a  nut  like  tho  Hales,  it  would  have 
^  been  comsidered  by  most  persons  as 
positive  iiroof  that  tho  experiment 
been  successful.  But  as  we 
happen  to  know  that  no  such  influ- 
euce  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
parent  of  the  Hales,  its  peculiarities 
must  ho  attributed  to  natural  varia- 
tioiis. 
A  good  idea  of  tho  general  size 
and  appearance  of  this  variety  can 
he  obtained  from  Fig.  4.  The  lower 
g  or  cross  section  shows  the  size  of  tho 
kernel,  also  the  form  and  thickness 
y  of  the  shell. 
^  Whether  this  variety  will  ever  be 
succes-sfully  propagated  by  any  of 
the  methods  now  practiced,  is  some¬ 
what  doubtful  at  present,  for  out  of 
several  thousand  seedlings  grafted 
from  the  original  tree,  and  by  a 
number  of  excellent  propagators  of 
such  plants,  less  than  fifty  cions 
were  made  to  unitewith  tho  stocks  or 
