HICKORY. 243 
Hicoria ovata. (Curva alba.) Shagbark Hickory. 
Shellbark Hickory: 
Leaves eight to fourteen inches long; leaflets five (rarely 
seven), obovate to oblong-lanceolate, ciliate; fruit globose, 
depressed at the apex; nut pale or nearly white, more or less 
flattened, four-angled, thin or thick shelled, covered with thick 
husk; meat highly flavored. Bark of old trees is very shaggy, 
separating into wide, rough strips, and often falling away in 
large pieces. A sturdy, beautiful tree, often seventy to ninety 
feet high in forests; in the open forming an inversely conical 
top, with pendulous branches. 
Distribution.—From Maine and the valley of the St. Lawrence 
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 win- 
ter in moist leaves or sand and sown in the spring; also, by root 
sprouts. Grafted only with much difficulty. 
Propertics of ’ood.—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 grav- 
ity, 0.8372; weight of a cubic foot, 52.17 pounds. 
Uses.—The Shagbark Hickory 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 and tool handles, plane blocks, wood 
screws, mallets, skewers, baskets, fuel and in the manufacture of 
agricultural implements, carriages and wagons, gymnasium 
apparatus, connecting rods for pumping machinery, etc. The 
second growth hickory is tougher, and on this account most 
desirable for these purposes. Hickory is also used in ship and 
boat building, hoops for barrels, tubs and pails, and oxbows are 
made from the sapwood. 
