194 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



common European walnut, which, in its wild state, is small and 

 thick-shelled, the fruit of the shagbark will be far superior to 

 any nut now known. 



The market of Boston and the other towns of this State, are 

 supplied with these nuts from the vicinity, or the interior of 

 the State, not abundantly enough, however, to prevent a consid- 

 erable importation from New York and other southern ports. 



The wood of the shellbark hickory splits more easily than 

 that of the other species, and has more elasticity. It is there- 

 fore preferred for whip-stalks, goads, and ox-bows; and some- 

 times it is used for making baskets. It has less strength and 

 tenacity than the wood of the pignut hickory, though it pos- 

 sesses in a high degree these characteristic properties. 



As fuel, it stands at the head of the list of trees belonging to 

 our climate, or probably to any other. Foreigners who have set- 

 tled among us, regard it as clearly superior to any wood known 

 in Europe. It is the heaviest of our native woods, and yields, 

 pound for pound, or cord for cord, more heat than any other, in 

 any shape in which it may be consumed. 



This tree does not often grow to large dimensions. One be- 

 tween the branches of the Nashua river, in Lancaster, and near 

 their confluence, measured eleven feet five inches at the ground, 

 eight feet six inches at three feet, and seven feet six inches at 

 six feet. 



Sp. 2. The Mockernut Hickory. The Walnut. Carya 



tomentosa. A. Michaux. 



Figured in Michaux, Sylva, I, Plate 35 ; and in Plate 13 of this volume. 



This species is often called the walnut, and is also known by 

 the name of the square-nut hickory. It is also called white 

 heart, though, in old trees, the heart is of the same dark red as 

 in the other hickories. It is liable to be confounded on one side 

 with the shellbark, and on the other with the pignut hickories. 

 The name mockernut is sometimes heard in this State, and is 

 given to it exclusively in New York. This, like the preceding, 

 is a stately, tall, and finely shaped tree, with an erect trunk, 

 throwing out a few moderately large branches, at a sharp angle, 



