DECIDUOUS TREES. 
353 
their growth. All of the species become large trees, with a height 
considerably greater than their breadth, and a squarish form. The 
foliage breaks into fine masses while the tree is yet young, and all 
the characteristics of its head afterwards give it rank midway be¬ 
tween the grand trees of which the white oak is a type, and massy- 
foliaged trees like the horse-chestnuts and the maples, which are 
less picturesque in outline and less boldly broken in lights and 
shadows. Its branches are clean, strong, and supple; not frittered 
in monotonous radiating lines, but rather given to irregularities. 
Its leafage is more luxuriant than that of the oak, and makes a 
deeper shade. The tree is little troubled by insects, except those 
which may be quickly and effectually dislodged, like the summer 
caterpillar, which sometimes attacks the leaves. 
Hickories are always favorites with children. Their elastic 
limbs never snap treacherously, and the boys may climb upon them 
or hang from their tips with little fear of a scolding for breaking 
the trees; and in autumn enjoy the sport of scrambling for the ear¬ 
liest nuts, and hearing them rattle through the branches after a 
hard frost. Bryant thus alludes to the squirrel’s sports upon them : 
* * * “ Swaying to the sudden breeze, ye fling 
Your nuts to earth, aud the brisk squirrel comes 
To gather them, and barks with childish glee, 
And scampers with them to his hollow oak.’' 
It may be passing beyond a description of the tree to suggest also 
the pleasant nibbles—nuts, apples, and cider—by the winter’s fire 
and the cheerful central lamp! 
The hickory has two marked faults when compared with certain 
favored trees. Its leaves come out quite late in the spring; not 
later, however, than those of the oak and ash. The leaf-buds begin 
to break later than those of the oak, but when once started they 
burst into full expansion more rapidly. In autumn the leaves drop 
with the first hard frost, falling dry and clean, easy to gather, or 
quick to be blown away; but the shells from which the nuts drop 
out as they fall, are troublesome in a lawn; not easy to mow over 
or to rake out. 
The leaves of some varieties turn to a dull yellow color before 
they fall, but pleasing autumn tints are not common among them. 
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