WALNUT FAMILY 



cliaracter. 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. 



Hickury nuts were highly appreciated by the Indians. 

 Bertram, in Ins "'['ravels in N(jrth America," relates that he 

 had Seen aljove one lumdred bushels of these nuts belonging 

 to a single familv. 'I'he Indian name of the nut appears in 

 English as Kiskitomas, Kiskytom, and, according to ]\'Iichaux, 

 Kiskythomas. All are believed to lie cori'uptions of an Indian 

 word Kwaskadamenne which means that it " must be cracked 

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

 stale one cannot help thinking what it might become were it 

 improved by systematic cultivation. 



The ])ig Shellbai-k, I/iiuria /aiiiiibsa, is a tree reaching the 

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

 seven to nine, fi-uit foui'-ribbed above the middle, husk very 

 thi( k, iHit large. It may Ije known by the orange color of 

 the _\(>ung branchlels. Ranges from Pennsylvania througli 

 central and westei-n New Xuvk to Indiana and Illinois and 

 southward to the Indian Territory. 



MOCKERNUT. BIG BUD HICKORY 



I/lcbrifi dibit. Cdrya tovicntosr. 



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

 west. Prefers rich ii|jlands, but will grow in sandy soil ; is the only 

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

 Rises hic^h in the forest as do all the hickories, but when growing 

 alone becomes a broad round-topped tree. Lea\es, buds, and husks 

 have a strong resinous odor. 



Bark. — Light or ilark gray, with sh.allow fissures and closely op- 

 pressed scales, bi old trees it becomes very rugged. Branchlets 

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

 bri!,dit 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 ns long as the others; in the second year the 

 branches become light or dark gray. 



286 



