WALNUT FAMILY 



character. The excellence of the American axe is believed 

 to be due quite as much to the handle of hickory as to the 

 quality of its steel. 



Hickory nuts were highly appreciated by the Indians. 

 Bertram, in his " Travels in North America," relates that he 

 had seen above one hundred bushels of these nuts belonging 

 to a single family. The Indian name of the nut appears in 

 English as Kiskitomas, Kiskytom, and, according to Michaux, 

 Kiskythomas. All are believed to be corruptions of an Indian 

 word Kwaskadamenne which means that it " must be cracked 

 with the teeth." Since this fruit is so excellent in its natural 

 state one cannot help thinking what it might become were it 

 improved by systematic cultivation. 



The Big Shellbark, Hicoria lacinibsa, is a tree reaching the 

 height of sixty or seventy feet. The bark is loose, leaflets 

 seven to nine, fruit four-ribbed above the middle, husk very 

 thick, nut large. It may be known 'by the orange color of 

 the young branchlets. Ranges from Pennsylvania through 

 central and western New York to Indiana and Illinois and 

 southward to the Indian Territory. 



MOCKERNUT. BIG BUD HICKORY 



Uicbria alba. Cdrya tomentbsa. 



Rare in New England, abundant in the middle west and south- 

 west. Prefers rich uplands, but will grow in sandy soil ; is the only 

 hickory found in the maritime Pine-belt of the southern states. 

 Rises high in the forest as do all the hickories, but when growing 

 alone becomes a broad round-topped tree. Leaves, buds, and husks 

 have a strong resinous odor. 



Bark, Light or dark gray, with shallow fissures and closely ap- 

 pressed scales. . In old trees it becomes very rugged. Branchlets 

 stout, terete, at first slightly angled, tomentose, during first year 

 bright red brown marked with conspicuous lenticels, in winter with 

 large pale leaf-scars, which are equally lobed or with middle lobe 

 two or three times as long as the others ; in the second year the 

 branches become light or dark gray. 



286 



