Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-07-16
Dome Department.
THE ShELLBARK HICKORY.

this species has given rise to the descrip-
tive names of shellbark, shagbark and
scalybark hickory, the first of which, as
being most generally in use in the Middle
and Southern States, | have adopted.
Many descendants of the Dutch settlers
who inhabit the parts of New Jersey
near the city of New York call it kisby
know it by the name Meyer tendre, or
soft walnut.
Beyond Portsmouth in New Hampshire
| have not observed the shellbark hickory
and even there, its vegetation being i'm
peded by the rigor of the climate. its
its stature is low and its fruit small.
have not found it in the forests of the
district of Maine nor in those in Vermont
situated a little higher toward the north.
1t abounds on the shores of Lake Erie,
about Geneva and Genesee, along the
river Mohawk, in the neigborhood of
Goshen in New Jersey and on the banks
of the rivers Susquehanna and Schuylkill
in Pennsylvania. In Maryland, in the
lower parts of Virginia and in the other
Southern States it is less common. In
South Carolina | have not noticed it
nearer Charleston than the parish of
Goose Creek. about "A miles distant. 1t
is met with in the Western States, but
not so frequently as the following species
the thick shellbark hickory, to which
it bears striking analogy and with
which it is COMPOUNDED by the Inhabitants.
East of the Alleghanies the shellbark
hickory grows almost exclusively about
swamps and wet grounds which are ex-
posed to be inundated for several weeks
together; in these situations it is found
in company with the swamp white oak
and red-fowering maple, sweet gum,
buttonwood and tupelo. OF all the
hickories this species grows to the great
est height with propOrtionally the small
est diameter, for it is sometimes seen
two feet thick. The trunk is destitute
of branches. regularly shaped and of an
almost uniform size for three-quarters of
its length, thus forming a very fine tree.
The greatest popularity in its appearance,
and that by which it is most easily dis
tinguished. is the surface of the trunk.
The exterior bark is divided into great
number of long narrow plates, which
bend outward at the ends and adhere
only in the middle. Bristling in this
manner with projecting points. the she'll
bark hickory attracts the attention of
the most careless observer. This remark
able eXfolation of the epiderms take,
place only in trees which exceed ten in.
ches i'll diameter, though it is much
earlier indicated by seams. Thi,
characteristic. by which the tree may be
recognized in winter when stripped OF
its leaves. does not exist during the sevel
or eight first years of its growth: anC
during this period it may easily be con
founded with the mockernut hickory
and pignut hickory if recourse is no
had to the buds. In these two species
} and generally in all trees. the buds ar,
formed of scales applied one upon
another; in the species which we ar,
: considering the two external scale
adhere for only half the length of tn,
bud and leave the the upper part uncov
cred. 1t is my opinion that in this dis
position of the scales. which is peculia
to this and the following species, should
be sought the origin of the eXfoliation o
, the bark. When the sap begins to ascenC
III the spring the outer scales fall and tn
= inner ones swell and become cOvere,
with yellowish silky down; after
fortnight the buds, which are alread,
two inches long, open and give brit
to the young leaves. The growth of tn
leaves is so rapid that in month the
! attain their full length, which on youn!
and vigorous trees is sometimes twent,
inches. They consist of two pair of leaf
Il lets with Il sessile odd one. The leaflet
are very large, Oval-acuminate, serrat
and slightly downy underneath. III
male flowers, which in the State of NeN
York appear from the 18th to the Dot
of May, are disposed as in the precedin
\ species on long, tiliform pendulou
l aments, of which three are united on
- common peduncle attached at the base 4
the young shoots; the female flower.
of greenish hue. and scarcely apparent
are situated at the extremity. The fru
of the shellbark hickory is ripe abou
the beginning of October; some years
=, is so abundant that several bushels ma
be gathered from single tree. 1t V;
ries in size according to the soil and tn
. exposure in which it is produced bl
Il five and half inches may be assume
as the average of its circumference. III
De shape is uniformly round, with four Il,
ct pressed seams, in which the husk open
. at the season of perfect maturity, diviC
ing itself completely into equal section
The entire separation of the husk and il
thickness disproportioned to the size {