The New Student's Reference Work/Butternut

Butternut or white walnut, is an American tree, growing to a height of 20 to 50 feet. It has numerous spreading branches and a smooth, ash-colored bark. It blossoms in May, and the fruit ripens in September and October. The fruit is an oblong nut, covered with a thin husk or hull, dark-brown when ripe. The kernel is sweet but oily. The bark and shells yield a dark-brown dye, and a poor quality of sugar can be obtained from the sap. The half-grown fruit is also used for pickles. The timber is valuable, and is much used for cabinet-making, gun-stocks, etc.