72 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



ing equal to it. These are made from young stocks. 

 For fuel, there is no wood which gives such intense 

 heat and heavy long-lived coals. For this use, 

 although discrimination is seldom made, the Common 

 Hickory is said to be the best, and the Bitter-nut 

 Hickory the poorest. For timber, Shell-Bark and 

 Pig-nut Hickories are reputed the best. 



It is to be observed upon this genus of trees, that the 

 species are subject to considerable variation both in 

 foliage and fruit, — sometimes apparently from crosses, 

 as well as from difference of situation, — and hence are 

 very difficult of discrimination without long and pa- 

 tient attention. This I have not given them, and am 

 therefore unable to indicate anything like an accurate 

 range of the species enumerated below, which have 

 been carefully examined only in particular localities. 



The Hickories are peculiar to North America, of 

 which we have nine species. In this State I have seen 

 but six, though I give seven in the following list. 

 The species are very naturally arranged in three 

 Divisions. The first Division is characterized by 

 the husk falling away from the Nut in four entire 

 pieces, and the bark of the old trunk peeling off in 

 long flakes or plates. These are the Shell-Barks or 

 Shag-Barks. The second has a husk which does not 

 divide down to its base, and the bark of the trunk is 

 not shaggy. These two, especially the first, have 

 Nuts with a sweet eatable kernel. The third Divis- 

 ion has Nuts with a thin shell and husk, and an 

 astringent bitter kernel. 



