68 



lu addition to these there is a tree, frequently found, 

 intermediate in appearance between the" pig-nut and 

 shag-bark. The bark is rough but does not flake off, 

 the leaves are quite resinously fragrant, and the fruit, 

 although not so large as that of the shag-bark, is not 

 pear-shaped like that of the pig-nut. This would seem 

 to be a quite common natural hybrid hickory. There 

 is a very fine tree of this varietj' at Kern wood, nearly 

 seventy feet high, not far from the residence of Mr. 

 J. E. Peabody. 



One of the most favorable places to study the 

 hickories is atKernwood. When Col. Francis Peabody 

 selected and improved that estate, half a century ago, 

 with rare good judgment he took care to preserve 

 the large number of hickories and oaks natural to 

 the soil. They have remained undisturbed to the 

 present time ; and, being long-lived trees, the majority 

 of them are likely to continue to improve in appear- 

 ance, and to grow larger for many years to come. A 

 natural growth of hickories of the size of those at 

 Kernwood, well cared for during this length of time, is 

 very rare in this region. The demand for hickory 

 lumber is rapidly reducing the supply of large trees, 

 for the species is confined to a limited region in North 

 America. This collection will, therefore, before long, 

 possess a scientific and economic value greater than 

 that of almost any other group of trees in the neigh- 

 borhood. It is certainly to be hoped that the same 

 conditions which have preserved these trees for the 

 past fifty years will act potently to preserve them for a 

 century to come. 



July twenty-eighth. 



