WALNUT FAMILY 
character. The excellence of the American axe is believed 
to be due quite as much to the handle of hickory as to the 
quality of its steel. 
Hickory nuts were highly appreciated by the Indians. 
Bertram, in his “ Travels in North America,” relates that he 
had seen above one hundred bushels of these nuts belonging 
to asingle family. he Indian name of the nut appears in 
English as Kiskitomas, Kiskytom, and, according to Michaux, 
Kiskythomas. All are believed to be corruptions of an Indian 
word Kwaskadamenné which means that it “ must be cracked 
with the teeth.”’ Since this fruit is so excellent in its natural 
state one cannot help thinking what it might become were it 
improved by systematic cultivation. 
The Big Shellbark, Wicoria lacinidsa, is a tree reaching the 
height of sixty or seventy feet. The bark is loose, leaflets 
seven to nine, fruit four-ribbed above the middle, husk very 
thick, nut large. It may be known by the orange color of 
the young branchlets. Ranges from Pennsylvania through 
central and western New York to Indiana and Illinois and 
southward to the Indian Territory. 
MOCKERNUT. BIG BUD HICKORY 
LTicoria dlba. Carya tomentose. 
Rare in New England, abundant in the middle west and south- 
west. Prefers rich uplands, but will grow in sandy soil; is the only 
hickory found in the maritime Pine-belt of the southern states. 
Rises high in the forest as do all the hickories, but when growing 
alone becomes a broad round-topped tree. Leaves, buds, and husks 
have a strong resinous odor. 
Bark.—Light or dark gray, with shallow fissures and closely ep- 
pressed scales. In old trees it becomes very rugged. Branchlets 
stout, terete, at first slightly angled, tomentose, during first year 
bright red brown marked with conspicuous lenticels, in winter with 
large pale leaf-scars, which are equally lobed or with middle lobe 
two or three times as long as the others; in the second year tne 
branches become light or dark gray. 
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