200 Nebraska State Hortlcutural Society. 



spicuous. Here they are picked up by large animals and sometimes 

 swallowed. They are too hard to be easily masticated, and many must 

 be rejected after trial. In the meantime they have usually been carrieij 

 some distance from the parent tree. This species occurs in the Mis- 

 souri forests, from which it has moved into Nebraska as far as Rich- 

 ardson, Pawnee, and Nemaha counties. 



Walnuts (Jiiglans spp.). The large drupaceous fruits contain a 

 bony shell (the nut) enclosing a four-lobed, edible seed. At maturity 

 the bitter flesh rots away, leaving the nut, which is picked up by 

 squirrels and related rodents, and carried away to be eaten at once, 

 or hidden for future eating. Many of these are dropped on the way, 

 or those hidden are forgotten or overlooked, so that much effective dis- 

 tribution of seeds has taken place. 



Butternut (Juglans ciiierea L. ) is common in the Missouri forests, 

 from which it has been carried into the southeastern part of Nebraska, 

 as far as Gage, Johnson, Otoe and Cass counties. 



Walnut (Juglans nigra L.) is found in abundance in the forests 

 in the Missouri river valley southeast of Nebraska, and from here it has 

 moved up that river and up the Niobrara valley to Cherry county. It 

 has occupied the southeastern corner of the state, and the Republican 

 valley to Harlan county. 



The Hickories (Cicoria spp.). The fruits are drupes, with a hard 

 flesh which splits at maturity into four segments and separates from 

 the hard, smooth, but usually angled nuts, each enclosing a two- to 

 four-lobed, edible seed. These nuts constitute the favorite food of 

 squirrels, and are carried away and secreted in great quantities. Many 

 of these eventually germinate and spring up into young trees. 



Shellbark Hickory (Hicoria ovata (Mill.) Britt.) is common in 

 the Missouri forests, from which it has been carried into the south- 

 eastern counties of Nebraska, from Gage to Cass. 



Big Hickory Nut (Hicoria laciniosa (Michx.) Sarg. ) occurs in the 

 Missouri forests, from which it has been carried northward along the 

 Missouri river from Richardson to Sarpy counties. 



Mocker-Nut (Hicoria alba (L.) Britt.) occurs in the Missouri for- 

 ests, from which it is reported to have moved northward into eastern 

 Nebraska ( Sargent ) . 



Pig-Nut (Hicoria glabra (Mill) Britt.) is common in the Missouri 

 forests, from which it has been carried along the Missouri river into 

 eastern Nebraska from Richardson to Cass counties. 



