FOREST TREES. 195 



The butternut, or as it is called at the south, the white 

 walnut, grows well in Canada, and in every part of New 

 England. The timber of this tree is of considerable 

 value in the arts, and some specimens which have been 

 put into cabinet work, nearly equal mahogany in beauty. 

 As it is a hardy tree, and fitted to a northern climate, it 

 is perhaps worthy of more extensive cultivation. 



Hickory. The most interesting species of that large 

 class of walnuts, called hickories, is probably the shag- 

 bark ; called also the shell bark, and scaly bark. The 

 timber of this tree is more flexible and stronger than al- 

 most any other in this country, and consequently is 

 peculiarly fitted to certain purposes, which cannot be an- 

 swered by other wood of greater firmness and durability. 

 It is much used for hoops, bows, and numerous other 

 articles, which require great flexibility. It is more val- 

 uable for fuel than any other wood in the northern States, 

 and though of rather a slow growth, on account of its 

 great value in the arts and comforts of life, deserves cul- 

 tivation. 



The fruit of the shagbark walnut is preferable to any 

 other except one, and besides that, is the only one which 

 yields nuts of sufficient value to be sent to market These 

 nuts are very palatable and much used, especially in re- 

 gions where they grow. 



Another kind of hickory resembling that just mention- 

 ed, is the thick shagbark. It is difficult to perceive a 

 difference in the tree or timber, but the fruit of the last 

 is nearly twice as large as that of the other, with a shell 

 so thick as not to be broken but by a heavy blow, and is 

 far less pleasant to the taste, and consequently seldom 

 used. 



Pacane-nut is a species of hickory growing in Louisiana, 

 Illinois, Missouri arid other western States. It is a hand- 

 some tree, growing like the two last mentioned, to the 

 height of seventy or eighty feet, and like them with tim- 

 ber, coarse grained, heavy and strong, and leaves from 

 12 to 18 inches in length. 



Tho nuts are large, with full kernel, thin shell, an 

 agreeable taste, very abundant, and exported in large 

 quantities to the West Indies and different parts of the 



