MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



MOCKER NUT (Hicoria alba Britton) 



THE Mocker Nut probably so called because of 

 ' the size of the nut and the smallness of the kernel 

 is distributed throughout the State 

 and is common in the eastern sections. 

 It grows in various soils, on ridges, rocky 

 slopes and in rich bottom-lands. 



In habit it is very similar to the Shag- 

 bark. It is a tall tree, fifty to sixty feet 

 in height and one to two and one-half 

 feet in diameter. 



The bark is dark gray, much like that 

 of the Pignut, yet with much more 

 numerous ridges and without the flaking 

 plates. The recent shoots are short, 

 stout and more or less covered with a 

 downy growth. 



The leaves are alternate, compound, 

 eight to ten inches in length and com- 

 posed of seven to nine leaflets. 



The fruit is borne singly or in twos 

 and ripens in October. It is variable in size 

 and shape. Usually it is globose and has 

 a strong-scented husk. The nut is thick- 

 shelled and the kernel small and sweet. winter twig 



The wood is heavy, hard, tough and One-half natural 

 strong. It serves for the same purposes as 

 does that of the Shagbark and is only slightly inferior. 



MOCKER NUT. One-half natural size. 



From Sargent's " Manual of the Trees of North America," by permission of 

 Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 



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