DECIDUOUS TREES. 353 



their growth. All of the species become large trees, with a height 

 considerably greater than their breadth, and a squarish form. The 

 foliage breaks into fine masses while the tree is yet young, and all 

 the characteristics of its head afterwards give it rank midway be- 

 tween the grand trees of which the white oak is a type, and massy- 

 foliaged trees like the horse-chestnuts and the maples, which are 

 less picturesque in outline and less boldly broken in lights and 

 shadows. Its branches are clean, strong, and supple ; not frittered 

 in monotonous radiating lines, but rather given to irregularities. 

 Its leafage is more luxuriant than that of the oak, and makes a 

 deeper shade. The tree is little troubled by insects, except those 

 which may be quickly and effectually dislodged, like the summer 

 caterpillar, which sometimes attacks the leaves. 



Hickories are always favorites with children. Their elastic 

 limbs never snap treacherously, and the boys may climb upon them 

 or hang from their tips with little fear of a scolding for breaking 

 the trees; and in autumn enjoy the sport of scrambling for the ear- 

 liest nuts, and hearing them rattle through the branches after a 

 hard frost. Bryant thus alludes to the squirrel's sports upon them : 



* * * " Swaying to the sudden breeze, ye fling 

 Your nuts to earth, aud the brisk squirrel comes 

 To gather them, and barks with childish glee, 

 And scampers with them to his hollow oak.'' 



It may be passing beyond a description of the tree to suggest also 

 the pleasant nibbles — nuts, apples, and cider — by the winter's fire 

 and the cheerful central lamp ! 



The hickory has two marked faults when compared with certain 

 favored trees. Its leaves come out quite late in the spring ; not 

 later, however, than those of the oak and ash. The leaf-buds begin 

 to break later than those of the oak, but when once started they 

 burst into full expansion more rapidly. In autumn the leaves drop 

 with the first hard frost, falling dry and clean, easy to gather, or 

 quick to be blown away ; but the shells from which the nuts drop 

 out as they fall, are troublesome in a lawn ; not easy to mow over 

 or to rake out. 



The leaves of some varieties turn to a dull yellow color before 

 they fall, but pleasing autumn tints are not common among them. 

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