168 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



the Pignut, and the Pecan-nut. The former and the latter 

 produce delicious nuts, and are highly worthy of cultivation 

 for their fruit alone ; while all of them assume very hand- 

 some shapes during every stage of their growth, and ulti- 

 mately become noble trees. Varieties of the Shellbark hicko- 

 ry are sometimes seen producing nuts of twice or thrice 

 the ordinary size ; and we have not the least doubt that the 

 fruit might be so improved in size and delicacy of flavour, 

 by careful cultivation, as to surpass the European walnut, 

 for the table. This result will probably be attained by 

 planting the nuts of the finest varieties found in our woods, 

 in rich moist soil, kept in high cultivation ; as all improv- 

 ed varieties of fruit have been produced in this way, and 

 not, as many suppose, by cultivating the original species. 

 These remarks also apply to the Pecan-nut ; a western 

 sort, which thrives well with us, and which produces a 

 nut more delicate in flavour than any other of this con- 

 tinent. 



These trees form strong tap-roots, and are therefore some- 

 what difficult to transplant ; but they are easily reared from 

 the nut ; and, for the reason stated above, this method should 

 be adopted -in preference to any other, except in particular 

 cases. 



The principal species of the hickory are the following : 



The Shellbark hickory, (C alha^) so called on account of 

 the roughness of its bark, which is loosened from the trunk 

 in long scales or pieces, bending outwards at the extremity, 

 and remaining attached by the middle ; this takes place, how- 

 ever, only on trees of some size. The leaves are composed of 

 two pairs of leaflets, with an odd or terminal one. The scales 

 which cover the buds of the Shellbark in winter, adhere only 

 to the lower half, while the upper half of the bud is left un- 



