302 



ARBORICULTURE. 



far superior to the small, common nuts, 

 yet the pecan is a hickory. 



The great sweet hickory nuts, while 

 seldom found in commerce, are sought 

 for by those who' know them in the re- 

 gion where they are grown. The small 

 shellbark is another favorite nut, usually 

 found on sale in country stores, but sel- 

 dom at the fruit stands, wtiere pecans 

 and other thin-shelled nuts are preferred 

 on account of the ease with which they 

 may be opened. 



The mockernut — bitternut — pignut, 

 and a host of hickory fruit of various 

 shades of quality are well known. Some 

 varieties oi the hickories are common to 

 the Northern and Eastern States, al- 

 though the pecan and a larger number of 

 varieties are peculiar tO' the South. The 

 size, shape and flavor oi the nuts, the 

 numiber of leaflets and their shape, as 

 well as the peculiarities of the bark and 

 the size which the trees attain to, are va- 

 riously used tO' determine, botanically, 

 where the variety stands ; but when the 

 trees have been cut intO' lumber and 

 placed upon the market, it all goes for 

 hickory, no discrimination being made in 

 commerce. The manufacturer buys 

 hickory, and only asks if it is second 

 growth or old timber. 



Hickory wood is quite dense, and 

 grows very slowly. While young it is 

 remarkalbly strong, flexible, elastic, and, 

 when kept from continuous moisture, is 

 ver}' durable, although it decays quickly 

 When expo'sed to moisture or in connec- 

 tion with the earth. 



There is no' wood known which is 

 quite soi well adapted tO' the manufac- 

 ture of light vehicles as secoud^growth 

 hickor}\ The spokes of most carriage 

 wheels, the bent rims, axles, and bolsters, 

 as well as the running gears, poles and 

 shafts, and the foundation frame work of 



carriage bodies, as also the singletrees 

 and doubletrees, are, or should be, of 

 hickory. 



Ax handles and many large and small 

 tool handles are of second-growth hick- 

 ory where that is obtainable. 



Ash, and even maple, has been substi- 

 tuted for certain lower-grade work, and, 

 when covered with several coats of paint 

 and varnish, can not be distinguished 

 from hickory, yet a little hard usage will 

 soon determine which timber has the 

 toughness, strength and elasticity requi- 

 site for good vehicle material. 



Second-growth timber is that young, 

 quick growth which springs up in rich 

 soils after clearing aw^y the old timber. 

 Secoud-growth woods, or quick-growing 

 woods, are far superior to old or slow 

 growths, because more elastic, stronger 

 and harder. 



The changed conditions which now ex- 

 ist since the removal of so great a pro- 

 portion of American forests, has reduced 

 the number oi birds, there being fewer 

 resting places and a less quantity of wild 

 fruits for food, which has resulted in a 

 vastly-increased number of noxious in- 

 sects. The balance maintained in nature 

 has also been destroyed by the same for- 

 est destruction. Many parasitic insects 

 and those which prey upon other noxious 

 insects have been reduced, and the de- 

 structive worms, caterpillars, borers, etc., 

 have greatly increased. 



Now the hickory, chestnut and many 

 other nut trees are threatened with ex- 

 termination from the damage done by 

 these various destructive insects. 



So serious has this injury become, the 

 carriage manufacturers have asked the 

 Government for some relief, ihat the dep- 

 redations may possibly be checked, as 

 will be seen by the following press dis- 

 patch : 



