102 LIFE ON THE FARM. 



Hickory timber is very light in color, splits in 

 straight pieces, is tough and flexible, and its 

 strength is unequalled. Hence, it is the wood 

 much used for carriages and wagons. Spokes for 

 wheels are made of hickory because of its tough- 

 ness, flexibility, and strength. There is no other 

 timber quite so good for this purpose. 



The shellbark is generally considered the best of 

 hickory trees. It grows from fifty to eighty feet 

 high. The branching varies according to the sur- 

 roundings. In a forest with other trees it sends up 

 a central trunk from thirty to fifty feet high, and 

 then branches out into an irregular head. In an 

 open field, the solitary tree begins to branch near 

 the ground. The branches come out at nearly 

 right angles to the main stem. The main stem is 

 almost always persistent to the top, and the head 

 of the tree is nearly cylindrical in form, with occa- 

 sional wide gaps between the branches. 



Besides its timber and fuel value, for all hickory 

 wood is the very best for fuel, the shellbark is prized 

 for its fruit. The nuts rank next to the English 

 walnut in food value. The trees begin to bear at 

 about twenty years of age, and continue to old age. 

 A half dozen thrifty trees will bear all the nuts a. 

 family can use. The nuts ripen and fall off after 

 the first frosts of autumn. The outer hull, which 

 is jn several parts, bursts open, setting free the 

 brown treasure within, and the nut is ready to crack 

 and eat. 



