IV. 2. THE HICKORY. 189 



and still remain growing pretty thickly. Their growth at first 

 is slow, but it is more rapid in proportion to the completeness 

 of their protection on every side. When the young plants have 

 attained the height of from five to eight feet, they may be thin- 

 ned out for the purpose of making walking-sticks, for which 

 the consumption is very considerable, and the demand con- 

 stantly increasing. When at the height of fifteen or twenty 

 feet, and from two to four inches in diameter, they may be still 

 further thinned for hoops. The value of the young and growing 

 trees for fuel, will be a sufficient inducement to continue the 

 operation of thinning to as great a degree as is necessary for the 

 best growth of the larger trees, which may be left standing for 

 timber, for ornament, or for the fruit. Hickories managed in this 

 way, drawn up at first by being surrounded by other trees, and 

 afterwards gradually exposed to the action of the sun and air, 

 will have their peculiar beauties developed in the fullest manner. 

 It is merely an imitation, by art, of the mode by which some 

 of the best trees of this kind now standing, have been formed. 

 The uses to which hickory wood is put, are very numerous. 

 Great numbers of walking-sticks are made of it, as for this 

 purpose no other native wood equals it in beauty and strength. 

 It is next in value to white oak, for making hoops, of which 

 great quantities are made in the State, and many more imported. 

 The price these bring is such, that it is doubtful whether land 

 of a suitable quality can in any other way be made so produc- 

 tive, as in raising them. Hickory makes the best screws, the 

 smoothest and most durable handles for chisels, augers, gimlets, 

 axes, and many other common tools. Seasoned wood of some 

 varieties of the pignut and mockernut trees, is equal in durability 

 to iron wood or lignumvitse, for mallets and heads of beetles, 

 being tougher and more durable than white oak. The sailor 

 prefers a hickory handspike. Its smoothness and tenacity rec- 

 ommend it for the screws of presses, the rings which confine 

 the sails of small vessels to the mast, and for the cogs of grist- 

 mills. The carriage maker employs it for the springs of gigs, 

 the whiffle-trees of stage coaches, and the shafts of light wagons. 

 The farmer makes of it the teeth of his rakes, bows for his 

 yokes, and handles for his axes ; uses it, when white or yellow 



