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Walnut |
Black
Walnut (genus Juglans) is a dark and unusually hard and durable
wood, found in hardwood forests in the eastern half of North America.
Although the nuts we usually eat come from its cousin the English
Walnut, it also has delicious, edible nuts. 'Course you may feel
like a blacksmith by the time you get the goody out of the hull!
Interestingly, there are many medicinal uses of the black walnut
bark. It has been known to cure infections, worms, even help with
viruses and skin problems. As an herb, it has even exhibited anti-cancer
properties.
The lumber is valued for furniture, interior paneling, gunstocks
and musical instruments, as in duck calls. Black walnut has
been popularly used in North American cabinet making since colonial
times. My Black Walnut comes from Blockade Hill, which was a battlesite
during the Civil War. The tree was blown over in a storm a few years
back and I was able to acquire it. Blockade Hill is located half
way between Overcup and Union in Woodruff
County. It comes from the farm that was owned by John James
Ferguson, a former mayor of Augusta, his brother Emmett Ferguson
and his sister Minny Belle Ferguson who never married. Their homesite
remains close to the town center of Augusta, right beside the Courthouse.
It was used as a Civil War hospital and is currently owned by Genie
Harrell.
Black Walnut was the wood of choice for early call makers. It is
still prized by hunters.
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