HICKORY. 243 



Hicoria ovata. (Carya alba.} Shagbark Hickory. 



Shellbark Hickory. 



Leaves eight to fourteen inches long; leaflets five (rarely 

 seven), obovate to oblong-lanceolate, ciliate; fruit globose, 

 depressed at the apex; nut pale or nearly white, more or less 

 flattened, four-angled, thin or thick shelled, covered with thick 

 husk; meat highly flavored. Bark of old trees is very shaggy, 

 separating into wide, rough strips, and often falling away in 

 large pieces. A sturdy, beautiful tree, often seventy to ninety 

 feet high in forests; in the open forming an inversely conical 

 top, with pendulous branches. 



Distribution. From Maine and the valley of the St. Lawrence 

 river westward along the southern region of the Great Lakes to 

 Central Minnesota and Kansas, south to Western Florida, 

 Northern Alabama and Eastern Texas. In Minnesota common 

 in a few counties in the extreme southeastern portion of the 

 state. 



Propagation. By seeds sown in autumn or stratified over win- 

 ter in moist leaves or sand and sown in the spring; also, by root 

 sprouts. Grafted only with much difficulty. 



Properties of Wood. Heavy, very hard, strong, tough, close 

 grained and flexible, not durable when exposed to moisture. It 

 is light colored, with thin nearly white sapwood. Specific grav- 

 ity, 0.8372; weight of a cubic foot, 52.17 pounds. 



Uses. The Shagbark Hickory is often very ornamental, and 

 is used to some extent in park planting. It is also planted for 

 the nuts, which find a ready sale. These vary greatly in size, 

 thickness of shell and in quality, and none but the best should 

 be planted for fruit. The tree is of exceedingly slow growth, 

 and is not of sufficient hardiness to warrant planting it in any but 

 a few very favorable locations in Southern Minnesota. The wood 

 is largely used for ax and tool handles, plane blocks, wood 

 screws, mallets, skewers, baskets, fuel and in the manufacture of 

 agricultural implements, carriages and wagons, gymnasium 

 apparatus, cennecting rods for pumping machinery, etc. The 

 second growth hickory is tougher, and on this account most 

 desirable for these purposes. Hickory is also used in ship and 

 boat building, hoops for barrels, tubs and pails, and oxbows are 

 made from the sapwood. 



