20 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



under protection of other trees. Is a rapid grower. Ripens its seeds in 

 the early fall; should be planted just before the ground freezes up for 

 winter. 



black walnut, J. nigra. 



Indigenous in the southern half of the state. But few timber siz^d 

 trees now left; young trees springing up where they can; some of our south- 

 ern farmers are wisely planting large orchards of them on the prairie. 

 With protective environments can be made a fair success between the 45th 

 and 47th parallel. Leaves about eighteen inches long; number of leaflets 

 about same as the butternut. The set relation of the flowers are the 

 same. Fruit is rounder than that of the butternut; odoriferous, uneven 

 on surface, appears at the extremity of the branches sometimes seven to 

 eight inches in circumference. Husk is thick. Nut is hard, compressed 

 at sides, grooved into deep furrows. Pith is in plates, sweet, agreeable, 

 but not equal to that of the European Walnut. In other respects our 

 American Black Walnut is superior to the European. Seed ripens in the 

 fall. The bark on old trees is deeply furrowed, thick and blackish. "The 

 duramen of the wood is compact and heavy, of a deep violet color surround- 

 ed with a white alburnum." Wood. On exposure to the air the duramen 

 (ripe wood) becomes nearly black, and the alburnum (sap) speedily decays. 

 Very strong and tenacious; does not warp or split when thoroughly season- 

 ed. Admits of a fine polish. The curly walnut is incomparably beautiful. 

 The ripe wood is not liable to be attacked by worms; is used in naval 

 architecture in cabinet work, in musket stocks, etc. The husks of the 

 fruit make a good dye for woolen stuffs. All things considered it is one of 

 our most valuable trees and should be extensively planted. 



HICKORIES. 



These belong with the Walnut family. The Shell-bark or Shag-bark Hick- 

 ory, Caya alba, is indigenous to Houston, Winona, Filmore, Mower, Free- 

 born, Olmstead and some other southern counties; seldom found north of 

 these counties, except where specially planted 



The bark on mature trunks is very shaggy, having rough strips. Like 

 that of the Yellow Birch the narrow plates bend outward at the ends, and 

 adhere in the middle. Amid the shade of other trees the trunk is des- 

 titute of branches for three-quarters of its length, and nearly uniform in 

 size. Will grow eighty to ninety feet high and yet be not over two feet in 

 diameter. The fruit ripens in the early part of October. Late fall 

 planting is the more successful way of management. It is round, divided 

 into four seams which readily open at maturity. The nut in this quarto- 

 divisional epicarp is comparatively small, having four angles corresponding 

 with the divisions of the thick husk. The kernel is sweeter than any 

 of the American Walnuts except the Pecan-nut. The Shell-bark hickory nuts 

 bring a good price in the market. Like that of all the other hickories, 

 the wood is elastic, strong and tenacious. Has fine rift. It is used for 

 the keels of vessels, hoops, whip-stalks, ax-handles,etc. The tree endures the 

 most intense cold. Why is it not more largely planted? 



