62 FOREST TREES. 
ormamental tree, which is its only claim to notice, its 
wood being of the poorest quality even for fuel. It 
is now considered by botanists a variety of the 
preceding species. 
CARYA-——HICKORY. 
Natural Order, Juglandacee. 
Sterile flowers, in lateral catkins, which are mostly 
in threes, on a common peduncle; stamens, three 
to eight; fertile flowers, two or three together at the 
end of the branches; calyx, four-toothed; petals, 
none; fruit, globular, with a fleshy and, at length, 
leathery bark, which splits into four valves, and falls 
away from the nut; leaves, odd pinnate, five to fifteen 
leaflets, the two sorts of flowers from the same scaly 
buds with these; the sterile catkins borne below the 
leaves. 
The Hickory, common in most parts of the United 
States, is exclusively an American tree. The different 
species grow in a variety of soils, but resemble each 
other in the qualities of their timber. So close is 
the resemblance, that no difference can be detected 
in the grain or color of the wood. They are all 
heavy, and combine, though in different degrees, the 
qualities of hardness, strength, and elasticity. Thev 
have also in common the disadvantages of speedy 
decay when exposed to heat and moisture, and 
peculiar liability to injury from worms. So important 
are the uses of the Hickory, that it would be difficult, 
if not impossible, to find another tree that would 
supply its place. 
