History (continued)
The following is a translation by Dr John Kenez from a chapter of an early Hungarian publication on horticulture by John Lippay: “The Garden in Posony”. It was published in 1664.
First of all walnut is antagonistic to oak tree. Thus they should not be planted close to each other - and walnut should not replace oak, using the same planting hole. It is said that in years with an abundant walnut crop there will be a very light crop of rye and other fruit.
Frequent experimentation has found that it is possible to graft walnut into walnut, plum and turpentine tree. Some think that by dipping the young tree before planting into the urine of a young child will ensure a soft shell.
To prevent early nut drop it may help to hammer a hot tamarisk or mulberry plug into its root.
If the green hull does not start to entirely separate from the shell, the nuts are thrown into a heap and within a couple of days the hull will separate. Then the nuts are spread out in the sun, most likely in the yard, for a few days. If the nuts are dried in the loft there is no need to gather them into a heap, rather these should be spread out thinly to dry and frequently turned over with the rake so that they do not become mouldy or rancid.
For keeping nuts fresh, they can be placed in sand. However, properly dried nuts may be kept in any kind of vessel. Some growers suggest that they keep best in a walnut chest, or within its dried leaves. Some say that when kept among red onions, that reduces their bitterness. Some say that the nuts may be kept raw after being de-hulled if they are placed in honey without delay. Twelve months later this honeyed nut is very beneficial and cures sore throats and problems of the arteries and veins.
The shell can be burned to get good quality ashes. The dividing packing tissue may be dried and ground. The dried powder, mixed in wine, will stop any pains in the stomach. As the walnut ages it becomes a warming media.
The oil pressed from old walnuts will suit in lamps and also as medication. The oil will cure bruises, swellings on any part of the body. With people of weak, delicate stomach, walnuts may cause irritation and inflammation. On the other hand, in the warm stomach they may cause heat and anger, even headaches or dizziness.
When you chew the kernel on an empty stomach it will cure any dog bite. Similarly, the mixture of the broken up kernel, red onion, honey and some salt, applied onto dog bite, or any other cut, will help healing.
The cooked mixture of walnut oil and leaves of rue helps in case of diphtheria - also in the case of inflamed ears, if mixed with honey.
Dental cavity may be helped by the hot shell of the walnut. The same shell, burnt, broken and mixed with oil and wine, may be smeared on a child’s hair for better growth. This is also used on people who are losing their hair or beard.
