WALNUTS AND HICKORIES 167 



one variety of these in eastern North America. 

 The exception is the pecan hickory,^ which 

 grows in Mexico and the Southwest. 



It is not an easy matter to tell the different 

 hickories apart, for they closely resemble each 

 other. But it is the shagbark and the big shell- 

 bark that we are most interested in, because 

 they are the ones which furnish us with nuts. 

 Fortunately these hickories are readily recog- 

 nized by their rough, shaggy bark, which is shed 

 in thin plates. In winter the shell-bark is easily 

 identified by its orange-red twigs. But we must 

 visit this tree in the spring to see its real glory 

 in the unfolding of its leaves. The outer bud 

 scales drop off; the smooth velvety inner ones 

 lengthen and fold backward, and lo! there 

 stands a salmon-red bud, shaped like the fleur- 

 de-lis. Occasionally we find pinkish or tawny 

 buds, and never was there real velvet of a 

 deeper, richer pile. In the midst of these 

 lovely, velvety scale-petals, presto! the downy 

 little leaves rise and lengthen out lilte fingers 

 from an opening hand. How interesting it is 

 to watch them from day to day and note their 

 progress! Hickory blossoms are a modest 



1 Several pecan orchards have recently been set out in the 

 Ozark fruit section. The young trees are thriving nicely, and 

 it is thought they will prove very successful. 



