196 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



delicacy of flavor by careful cultivation, as greatly to 

 suipass the European walnut, for the table. This result 

 will probably be attained by planting the nuts of the finest 

 varieties found in our woods, in rich moist soil, kept in 

 high cultivation; as all improved varieties of fruit have 

 been produced in this way, and not, as many suppose, by 

 cultivating the original species. These remarks also 

 apply to the Pecan-nut ; a western sort, which thrives well 

 in the middle states, and which produces a nut more 

 delicate in flavor than any other of this continent. 



These trees form strong tap-roots, and are, therefore, 

 somewhat difficult to transplant ; but they are easily 

 reared from the nut ; and, for the reason stated above, this 

 method should be adopted in preference to any other, 

 except in particular cases. 



The principal species of the hickory are the following : 



The Shellbark hichory (C alba), so called on account 

 of the roughness of its bark, which is loosened from the 

 trunk in long scales or pieces, bending outwards at the 

 extremity, and remaining attached by the middle; this 

 takes place, however, only on trees of some size. The 

 leaves are composed of two pair of leaflets, with an odd or 

 terminal one. The scales which cover the buds of the 

 Shellbark in winter, adhere only to the lower half, while 

 the upper half of the bud is left uncovered, by which this 

 sort is readily distinguished from the other species. The 

 hickory nuts of our markets are the product of this tree ; 

 they are much esteemed in every part of the Union, and 

 are exported in considerable quantities to Europe. Among 

 many of the descendants of the original Dutch settlers of 



