•52 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Its wood is chiefly used for furniture in ladies' boudoirs and bed- 

 rooms, as it gives a bright and airy appearance to a room. Its grain 

 is wide and open, and when oiled and varnished has a pretty light 

 yellow color. 



Hickory, (Gary a Alha.) — The northern habitat of this tree is 

 probably on a line with the butternut. The shell bark variety finds 

 its chief home in the woods of the County of Lambton and West 

 Middlesex. The tree is not easily cultivated, as it is a slow grower 

 and difficult of transplantation, but its wood is so valuable where its 

 toughness and elasticity are required that it commands a high price. 

 It is principally used for tool handles, carriage spokes and fellies, and 

 if grown in sufficient quantities would readily find a foreign market 

 at remunerative prices. This tree is usually cut in its juvenile stages, 

 when from four to six inches through at the butt, and consequently 

 could be advantageously grown in plantations between trees used at a 

 more mature age, which would be relieved by removing the hickories 

 as required. If grown as proposed the nuts couid be dropped where 

 it was intended the tree should stand. The foliage of the hickory is 

 •of a light pleasant green ; the rich leaf would add much to the beauty 

 of the home surroundings. The nut deprived of its shell may be 

 obtained from all itinerant newsboys on boats "or cars, as no doubt my 

 hearers can willingly testify. 



I would strongly urge upon our farmers and others, especially those 

 in youth and middle age, to begin at once, if they have not already 

 'done so, and prepare a suitable piece of ground, well fenced with some 

 durable material such as cedar posts and barb wire, and obtain and 

 plant some of the nut bearing specimens I have spoken of. Any soil 

 suitable for corn oi" wheat, having previously had a hoeing crop such 

 as potatoes or mangolds would suit admirably for the purpose. A half 

 acre well plowed and planted with nuts would raise enough young 

 trees to cover several hundred acres, or if used for roadside planting 

 would extend a number of miles. The cost of seed, care and culture 

 "would scarcely be felt, while the beauty insured would be a lasting 

 ^one, and would hand down the name of the patriotic individual who 

 went into the business for many generations. Seeing trees grow is a 

 thing that all lovers of nature take pride in, but to grow them ones- 

 ^self is a pleasure indeed. Before the white man invaded this continent 

 all the nuts alluded to were used by the North Americas Indians 



