HICKORY ( formerly hiccory.pohiekery, from the North American Indian name), Carya, or Ilicoria. A genus of trees formerly included among NValatits (JUglanS). The hickories are exclusive ly North American. They are large and beautiful Dees, with pinnate leave:. and attain a height of 70 or SO feet. Their timber is very heavy, strong, elastic, and tenacious, but decays speedily when exposed to heat and moisture, and is it liable to injury from worms. Great quantities of hickory are u,ed to make hoops for casks. it is much used for handspikes, axe-handles, baskets, agricultural implements. etc.. the second growth being tougher. is preferred for these purposes. When used for baskets the logs are cut into sec tions of the required length, steamed in vats, and cut in a veneering machine, after which they are chopped into splints of the required width. Shafts of carriages, handles of whips, and golf clubs, large screws, etc., are made of hickory. It
is greatly esteemed for fuel. The fruit of the hickory is a smooth, hard-shelled nut covered by a four-parted husk, which in most species sep arates to the base upon maturity. The nuts of some of the species are of excellent flavor. The shell-bark and shag-bark hickory are so called front their shaggy outer bark, which peels off in long. narrow plates. The hickories are found from Maine to Florida and west to Minnesota. Kansas, and Texas. and extending into Mexico, several species occurring throughout the entire range. The trees are mostly slow growing. In forests they grow tall with few limbs. but in the open they branch widely and have many desirable qualities desired in park tree:.
The principal species, according to different authorities. arc: