186 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



fertile flowers, of a greenish hue and scarcely apparent, are 

 situated at the extremity. The fruit is ripe about the first of 

 October. It varies in size, according to the soil and the exposure 

 in which it is produced, but five and a half inches may be assumed 

 as the average of the circumference. The shape is uniformly 

 round, with four depressed seams, in which the husk opens at 

 the season of perfect maturity, dividing itself completely into 

 equal sections. The separation of the husk, and its thickness 

 disproportioned to the size of the nut, form a character peculiar 

 to the shellbark hickories. The nuts of this species are small, 

 white, compressed at the sides, and marked by four distinct 

 angles, which correspond to the divisions of the husk. 



The wood of the shellbark hickory possesses all the character- 

 istic properties of the hickories, being strong, elastic and tenacious. 

 It has also their common defects of soon decaying and of being 

 eaten by worms. As this tree grows to a great height with 

 nearly an uniform diameter, it is sometimes employed for the 

 keels of vessels. Its wood is found to split most easily,' and to 

 be the most elastic ; for this reason it is used for making baskets, 

 and also for whip handles, which are esteemed for their suppleness. 

 Such are the uses which the shellbark hickory appears peculiarly 

 adapted. 



