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ARBORETUM ANI) FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

them in a day. It grows with equal rapidity, when young, as the J. nigra;but the trunk ramifies at a less height; and, the branches extending more hori-zontally than those of most other trees, and spreading widely, a large and flattufted head is formed, which gives the tree, in America, more especially inexposed situations, a most remarkable appearance. In Britain, we havescarcely seen any old trees ; and, never having observed any fruit on thefew of middle size which we have seen bearing this name, we have alwaysbeen in doubt as to the specific difference between them and J. nigra.

Geography, ,/uglans cinerea is found in Upper and Lower Canada, and inthe temperate regions of the United States; but not in the lower parts of theCarolinas, of Georgia, and of East Florida. It grows vigorously in Vermont,where the winter is so rigorous, that sledges are used during four months ofthe year. Michaux has seen no trees of it so large as some in New Jersey,on the steep and elevated banks of the Hudson, nearly opposite to the city ofNew York. There the woods are thin, the soil cold, unproductive, and in-terspersed with large rocks. In the interstices of the latter, the butter-nutmay be found 50 ft. high, with trunks measuring 10 ft. or 12 ft. in circum-ference at 5 ft. from the ground; the roots extending horizontally, closeunder the surface, and with little variation in point of thickness, to the dis-tance of 40 ft. from the tree.

History. J. cinerea appears to have been first sent to Europe in 1099, atwhich period it was cultivated by the Duchess of Beaufort; but whether inher garden at Chelsea, or in that at Badminton, we are not aware. It issaid to have been grown by Miller; but, from his description of it, as havingonly two pairs of leaflets, we think it more likely that the plant he describeshas been some other species under this name. At present, J. cinerea is notunfrequent in British and French nurseries; and nuts are annually importedby the seedsmen ; but we know of very few large trees.

Properties a7id Uses. The wood of Juglans cinerea is light, of a reddishcolour, and of little strength; but it possesses, in common with the wood ofall the species of the genera of this order, the great advantage of lasting long,and of being secure from the annoyance of worms. In America, it is neverused in towns for the construction of houses; but in the country, in somedistricts, it is used for sleepers and sills in the framework of barns andother farm buildings. As it long resists the effects of heat and moisture, it isvalued for posts and rails, and for watering and feeding-troughs for the use ofcattle. Being lighter, and less liable to split, than the wood of the red maple,it is preferred to it for corn shovels and wooden dishes. Canoes and smallskiffs are also made of it, and at Windsor, in Vermont, coach panels. Themedicinal properties of the bark have been proved by several eminent Ame-rican physicians. An extract, or a decoction, sweetened with honey, is a sureand safe purgative, unattended, even in the most delicate constitutions, withpain or irritation. The bark is also applied to cure the toothach, and todye wool of a dark brown colour; though, for this last purpose, it is inferiorto the bark of J. nigra. If an incision is made in the trunk of the tree, in themonth which precedes the unfolding of the leaves, a copious discharge ofslightly sugary sap takes place, from which, by evaporation, an inferior sugaris obtained. On the whole, notwithstanding the various properties of thistree in the United States, Michaux does not think it sufficiently valuable,either in the arts or for fuel, to recommend its introduction into the forestsof Europe. It should, he says, find a place only in our pleasure-grounds.

Statistics. In the environs of London are some trees bearing this name, in the Chelsea BotanicGarden, and at Syon and Purser’s Cross, which are from 30 ft. to 40 ft high ; and in the Horticul-tural Society’s Garden there is one which, in 1834, after being 10 years planted, was from 20 ft. to25ft. high. In Loddiges’s arboretum, one is 18ft. high. In France, at Toulon, in the BotanicGarden, 40 years planted, it is 60 ft. higli $ diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 6 in., and of the head 25 ft. InSaxony, at Worlitz, 50 years old, it is 40 ft. high ; the diameter of the trunk 2 ft. In Austria, atVienna, in the park of Laxenburg, 16 years planted, it is 14 ft. high. At Briick on the Leytha,45years planted, it is 54 ft. high ; the diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 9 in., and of the head 28 ft. In Prussia,at Berlin, in the Botanic Garden, 40 years planted, it is 16 ft. high ; the diameter of the trunk8 in. and of the head 6ft.