274 THE HICKORIES 



of the other Hickories. It does not grow very tall, seldom 

 reaching one hundred feet, generally not over eighty- 

 five, and rarely attaining a diameter of three feet, usually 

 not over two feet. Like the other Hickories it is light- 

 demanding, and when crowded will send up a straight stem, 

 clean, tapering, and free from limbs for one half its height. 



The wood is much like that of the Shagbark class, except 

 that the heartwood is dark brown, and there is a thick and 

 nearly white sapwood. This latter feature is responsible for 

 its botanical designation, alba, or white. In every respect 

 the wood is equal in quality to that of the other Hickories, 

 and the large percentage of white sapwood has, no doubt, 

 caused consumers to prefer it to any other, although there 

 is doubt if that feature adds anything to its value. 



As indicated, its fruit is practically valueless, owing to 

 its thick shell and small size of kernel, although it finds 

 a ready sale with those who are not familiar with its charac- 

 ter, hence it must be grown for its wood alone. The nuts 

 should be gathered and treated the same as noted for other 

 Hickories and propagation be carried on along the same 

 lines. 



PIGNUT HICKORY : Hicoria gldbra 



AN absurd name seems to have been reached in the first 

 attempt in the case of the Pignut Hickory, although it 

 is called by several other names, frequently " Bitternut," 

 which is both incorrect and confusing. It is not even a 

 variety of H. minima, although, like that tree, it bears bitter 

 fruit. Its range is from Maine southward to the Gulf States, 

 and westward to eastern Kansas. It is most abundant in 

 Missouri and Arkansas, and its best development is in the 

 lower Ohio River basin. It prefers dry ridges and hillsides. 



The tree seldom reaches ninety feet in height, more gen- 

 erally not over seventy -five. It is occasionally found three 

 to three and one half feet in diameter, although it does 

 not often exceed two feet. Demanding light, it sends up a 

 slender stem, clean of large limbs, and forms a crown with 



