THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 75 



teringly disseminated among the other Hickories 

 throughout North Carolina. It can be distinguished 

 in Winter by the shoots of the preceding Summer, 

 which are brown, and not half the size of those of 

 the preceding species. These are exceedingly tough 

 and of the best quality for Hickory withes. The leaf- 

 lets are smooth on both sides, 5 to 7 in number. The 

 fruit is generally pear-shaped, the husk thin and 

 green, the shell of the nut very hard and smooth, 

 and the kernel small and sweetish. 



5. Small-Nut Hickory. (C. microcarpa, Nutt.) 

 — This is more common in the Northern States than 

 with us. I have observed it only in Caldwell County, 

 though it probably exists in most of the western 

 counties, intermingled with the Common Hickory. It 

 is of similar dimensions with the latter^ but the bark 

 of the trunk is much more even. The foliage is 

 much like that of the Pig-nut. The nut is roundish, 

 no^ much larger than a nutmeg, with a thin shell. 



6. Bitter-Nut Hickory. (C. amara, Nutt.) — 

 Not uncommon from the coast to the mountains, pre- 

 ferring rich and cool soils, where it rises to the height 

 of 70 to 80 feet, with a diameter of two or more. It 

 is sometimes called Swamp Hickory. The foliage ap- 

 pears later than that of the other species. The leaf- 

 lets are 7 to 11 and smooth. It can be recognized in 

 winter by its small, yellow buds. The fruit has a 

 thin husk which has prominent seams opening about 

 half-way to the base, and a nut with a thin shell that 

 can be crushed with the fingers. The kernel is ex- 



