HICKORIES. 175 



Distribution. From Maine and the Valley of the St. Law- 

 rence 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 

 winter 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 gravity 0.8372: weight of a cubic foot 52.17 pounds. 



Uses. The Shell bark ijickory 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 

 handles, baskets, fuel and in the manufacture of agricultural 

 implements, carriages and wagons. The second growth 

 hickory is tougher and on this account most desirable for 

 these purposes. 



Hicoria minima. (Gary a amara. } Bitternut Hickory. 

 Swamp Hickory. 



Leaves 6 to 10 inches long; leaflets 5 to 9. sessile, lanceo- 

 late to oblong- lanceolate, taper-pointed, serrate; buds orange 

 yellow in winter, resembling' those of the Butternut, opening 

 by valves which fall away early, Fruit globular; shuck very 

 thin; nut yellowish, thin-shelled, bitter. The bark does not 

 shell off as in Shellbark Hickory. A slender tree of graceful 

 habit, sometimes -80 feet high but within our range much 

 smaller. It is a more rapid grower than the other hickories. 



Distribution. From New England, Ontario, and Minne- 

 sota south to Florida and Texas, in moist woods and near 

 the borders of streams and swamps. In Minnesota frequent 



