MOCKERNUT HICKORY 273 



larger scales of the bark of the Shagbark, these frequently 

 being three or four feet long, quite broad and thick, and 

 more or less seamed vertically. 



The nuts are larger than those of the Shagbark, and the 

 shell is thick and hard. They are edible. Caring for seeds 

 and propagating should be the same in all respects as for 

 other Hickories. As it naturally thrives in ground fre- 

 quently inundated for several weeks in the spring of the 

 year, such locations should be chosen in which to grow it, 

 especially as no other Hickory will thrive as well there ; but 

 it will grow fairly well elsewhere if the ground is fertile. 



MOCKERNUT HICKORY : Hicoria alba 



SURELY this tree has more than its share of names. 

 There are fifteen in all, some of which are absurd and un- 

 couth. Mockernut is the one most generally chosen and it 

 is quite appropriate, intended, no doubt, to express the 

 disappointment and disgust in the mind of any one who 

 may think he has a large edible nut, but finds the seed very 

 small. It is sometimes called " Big-bud Hickory," a name 

 entirely in keeping with its peculiar winter buds. 



Its range extends farther south than any other Hickory 

 that is valued for its wood, even reaching to the Gulf of 

 Mexico. It may also be found as far north as Lake Ontario, 

 but it is comparatively rare in the Northern States. Its 

 best development is in the Ohio Kiver Basin and in Mis- 

 souri and Arkansas. In the South it is most common on 

 sandy hummocks, but along the Gulf and in the South At- 

 lantic States it is abundant on low ground next to the 

 shores of bays and inlets. In the North it is mainly con- 

 fined to low ridges. It appears to prefer soil that never be- 

 comes very dry, although it may not be very fertile. Still, 

 fertility is essential to a vigorous growth, and this is true 

 of all the Hickories. 



Little need be said concerning the general characteris- 

 tics of the tree, for they do not essentially differ from those 



