DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TRESS. 195 
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 butter- 
nut. 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 |tnd 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 constitute fine, 
graceful park trees, and are justly entitled to a place in 
ever}^ 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 handsome shapes during every stage of their growth, 
and ultimately 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 
