DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 167 



highly valuable for their wood, and the excellent fruit borne 

 by some of the species. The timber is extremely elastic, and 

 very heavy, possessing great strength and tenacity. It is not 

 much employed in architecture, as it is peculiarly liable to 

 the attacks of worms, and decays quickly when exposed to 

 moisture. But it is very extensively employed for all pur- 

 poses requiring great elasticity and strength ; as for axletrees, 

 screws, the wooden rings used upon the rigging of vessels, 

 whip-handles, and axe-handles ; and an immense quantity of 

 the young poles are employed in the manufacture of hoops, 

 for which they are admirably adapted. 



For fuel, no American wood is equal to this in the brillian- 

 cy with which it burns, or in the duration or amount of heat 

 given out by it : it therefore commands the highest price in 

 market, for that purpose. 



The hickories are nearly allied to the walnuts ; the chief 

 botanical distinction consisting in the covering to the nut, 

 or husk ; which in the hickories separates into four valves 

 or pieces when ripe, instead of adhering in a homogeneous 

 coat, as upon the Black walnut and butternut. In size 

 and appearance, the hickories rank with the first class of 

 forest trees ; most of them growing vigorously to the height 

 of 60 or 80 feet, with fine straight trunks, well balanced and 

 ample heads, and handsome, lively, pinnated foliage. When 

 confined among other trees in the forest, they shoot up 50 or 

 60 feet without branches ; but when standing singly, they 

 expand into a fine head near the ground, and produce a 

 noble, lofty pyramid of foliage, rather rounded at the top. 

 They have all the qualities which are necessary to consti- 

 tute fine park trees, and are justly entitled to a place in every 

 considerable plantation. 



The most ornamental species are the Shellbark hickory. 



