756 • Handbook of Nature-Study 



Their fringy, reddish purple, inner scales grow so large that they appear 

 tuliplike before they fall away at the unfolding of the leaves. 



Hickory wood ranks high in value; it is light-colored, close-grained, 

 heavy, and very durable when not exposed to moisture. It is capable of 

 resisting immense strain, and, therefore, it is used for the handles of spades, 

 plows and other tools, and also for spokes and thills in carriage-making. 

 As a fuel, it is superior to most woods, making a glowing, hot and quite 

 lasting fire. 



LESSON CXCIII 



The Shagbark 



Leading thought — The hickories are important trees commercially. 

 They have compound leaves which are set alternately upon the twig. The 

 shagbark can be told from the other hickories by its ragged, scaling bark. 



Method — This lesson may be begun in the winter when the tree can be 

 studied carefully as to its shape and method of branching. Later, the 

 unfolding of the leaves from the large buds should be watched, as this is a 

 most interesting process; and a little later the blossoms may be studied. 

 The work should be taken up again in the fall, when the fniit is ripe. 



Observations Winter study — i. What is the general shape of the whole 

 tree? Are the lower branches very large? At what angle do the branches, 

 in general, grow from the trunk? Are there many large branches? 



2. Where is the spray borne ? What is its character — that is, is it fine 

 and smooth, or knotted and angled? What is its color? 



3 . Describe the bark. Is the bark on the limbs like that on the trunk ? 



4. What is the size and shape of the buds? Are the buds greenish- 

 yellow, yellowish brown, or do they have a reddish tinge? 



5 . Count the bud-scales. Are they downy or smooth ? 



Spring study — 6. Describe how the hickory leaf unfolds from its bud. 

 How is each leaflet folded within the bud ? 



7. Describe the long greenish catkins which bear the pollen. On what 

 part of the twigs do they grow ? Do they grow singly or in clusters ? 



8. Take one of the tiny, pollen-bearing flowers and hold it under a lens 

 on the point of a pin. How many lobes has the calyx? Count the 

 stamens, and note the color of the anthers. 



9. Upon what part of the twigs do the pistillate flowers grow? How 

 many points or lobes has the pistillate cal3'x ? Describe the growth of the 

 nut from the flower. 



Atttumn study — 10. Does the hickory you are studying grow in open 

 field or wood ? 



1 1 . Are the trunk and branches slender and lofty, or sturdy and wide 

 spreading ? 



12. Note the number and shape of the leaflets. Are they slim and 

 tapering, or do they swell to the width of half their length? Are they set 

 directly upon or are they attached by tiny stems to the mid-stem? Are 

 they smooth or downy on the under side? Are the leaves set upon the 

 twigs alternately or opposite each other ? How are the leaflets set upon the 

 mid-stem? 



13. Describe the outer husk of the nut. Into how many sections does 

 it open? Does it cHng to the nut and fall with it to the ground ? Is the nut 

 angled and pointed, or is it roundish and without angles? Is the kernel 

 sweet or bitter ? 



