TREES AND THEIR VALUE FOR PLANTING 93 



often managed by the coppice system on short rotations for the 

 production of sprouts used for making handles and spokes. 



Pignut Hickory (Hicoria glabra). — Pignut hickory is dis- 

 tributed throughout the eastern part of the country. It usually 

 occurs mixed in with other species. It often reaches a height 

 of 130 to 140 feet and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. It forms a very 

 strong taproot like the other hickories. It grows both on 

 clay and on sandy soil. It prefers a moist, fairly fertile soil. 

 It succeeds better on drier situations than the other hickories. 

 It grows at about the same rate as shagbark hickory, but con- 

 tinues rapid growth for a much longer period. It produces 

 the strongest and toughest wood of all the hickories. It pro- 

 duces seed in abundance, and since they are rarely edible, 

 natural reproduction is good. In addition it is the most vigor- 

 ous sprouter of all the hickories. It is propagated and managed 

 the same as the shagbark hickory. Owing to its ability to 

 endure fairly dry conditions, it is a valuable tree for planting 

 on many situations. 



Sugar Maple {Acer saccharum). — This tree grows naturally 

 in the Eastern United States. It often reaches a height of 

 120 feet and a diameter of 4 to 6 feet. It prefers a fresh, 

 well-drained soil. It grows well on any rich soil. It will not 

 thrive on poor, dry ground. The wood is heavy, strong, 

 dense and hard, but not durable in contact with the soil. It 

 absorbs creosote readily, however, and when treated posts 

 will last 15 to 20 years. The wood is in demand for many 

 purposes. The tree is grown extensively for the production 

 of maple sugar. Since the amount of sugar produced depends 

 on the extent of the leaf surface, the trees for sugar produc- 

 tion should be spaced wider apart than for the production of 

 wood. Six feet apart is the usual spacing for wood pro- 

 duction. The tree grows well in pure stands and can also be 

 mixed with other trees, such as white pine, red pine, European 

 larch, red oak, yellow poplar, etc. The trees are easily prop- 

 agated from seed. The seed should be gathered from the 



