222 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



occasionally, also, quite striking and picturesque. And it 

 is well worthy of a place for the excellence of its fruit.* 



The Hickory Tree. Carya. 

 Nat. Ord. Juglandaceae. Lin. Syst. Moncecia, Polyandria. 



The hickories are fine and lofty North American trees, 

 highly valuable for their wood, and the excellent fruit 

 borne by some of the species. The timber is extremely 

 elastic, and very heavy, possessing great strength and 

 tenacity. It is not much employed in architecture, as it is 

 peculiarly liable to the attacks of worms, and decays 

 quickly when exposed to moisture. But it is very exten- 

 sively employed for all purposes requiring great elasticity 

 and strength ; as for axletrees, screws, the wooden rings 

 used upon the rigging of vessels, whip-handles, and axe- 

 handles ; and an immense quantity of the young poles are 

 employed in the manufacture of hoops, for which they 

 are admirably adapted. 



For fuel, no American wood is equal to this in the 

 brilliancy with which it burns, or in the duration or amount 

 of heat given out by it : it therefore commands the highest 

 price in market for that purpose. 



The hickories are nearly allied to the walnuts ; the 



* Loudon errs greatly in his Arboretiun, in supposing the butternut to bo 

 identical with the Black walnut : no trees in the whole American forest are 

 more easily distinguished at first fiight. He also states the fruit to be rancid 

 and of little value ; but no American lad of a dozen years will accord with 

 him in this opin on. 



