200 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
some shapes during every stage of their growth, and ulti- 
mately become noble trees. Varieties of the Shellbark 
hickory are sometimes seen producing nuts of twice or thrice 
the ordinary size ; and we have not the least doubt that the 
fruit might be so improved in size and delicacy of flavour, 
by careful cultivation, as greatly to surpass 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 flavour than any other of this con- 
tinent. 
These trees form strong tap-roots, and are therefore some- 
what 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 hickory, ( 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, how- 
ever, 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 dis- 
tinguished from the other species. The hickory nuts of our 
