DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
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much employed in architecture, as it is peculiarly liable to 
the attacks of worms, and decays quickly when exposed to 
moisture. But it is very extensively employed for all pur- 
poses requiring great elasticity and strength ; as for axletrees, 
screws, the wooden rings used upon the rigging of vessels, 
whip-handles, and axe-handles ; and an immense quantity 
of the young poles are employed in the manufacture of hoops, 
for which they are admirably adapted. 
For fuel, no American wood is equal to this in the brilliancy 
with which it burns, or in the duration; or amount of heat 
given out by it : it therefore commands the highest price in 
market for that purpose. 
The hickories are nearly allied to the walnuts ; the chief 
botanical distinction consisting in the covering to the nut, 
or husk ; which in the hickories separates into four valves, 
or pieces, when ripe, instead of adhering in a homogeneous 
coat, as upon the Black walnut and butternut. In size 
and appearance, the hickories rank with the first class of 
forest trees ; most of them growing vigorously to the height 
of 60 or 80 feet, with fine straight trunks, well balanced and 
ample heads, and handsome, lively, pinnated foliage. When 
confined among other trees in the forest, they shoot up 50 or 
60 feet without branches ; but when standing singly, they 
expand into a fine head near the ground, and produce a 
noble, lofty pyramid of foliage, rather rounded at the top. 
They have all the qualities which are necessary to consti- 
tute fine, graceful, park trees, and are justly entitled to a 
place in every considerable plantation. 
The most ornamental species are the Shellbark hickory, 
the Pignut and the Pecan-nut. The former and the latter 
produce delicious nuts, and are highly worthy of cultivation 
for their fruit alone ; while all of them assume very hand- 
