Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1910-04-30
NUT BEARING TREES.
Many Species Of the Hlckory-Psean
o. Tho South-The walnut.

Many Species Of the Hlekory-Psean
Of tho south-rhe walnut.
Among our nut bearing trees the
hickory trees are perhaps the
best known. They are strictly
North American trees; none
now grow in any other part Of the
world. There are fourteen known
species: one Mexican, while the
other thirteen grow east OF the
Rocky Mountains. Our own State
boasts Of six species, of which the
shagbark or shellbark Is most noted
because OF its nuts and it's peculiar
bark.
The wood of most species is fought,
strong and fiexible-especially va1u.
able for farm Implements. tool han.
dies. etc. There Is no other kind OF
fuel that excels dry hickory for heat
and brillancy OF fame. No other Of
our trees bear such valuable nuts.
No finer shade trees are to be found.
Rut because Of the value of the wood
for implements and fuel the finest
trees OF the forest have been sacrl.
feed and as consequence the crop
OF wild nuts is decreasing while the
demand Is Increasing. Nurserymen
are now experimenting to find the
best method of propagating the trees
ana improving the varieties.
The Creek and Algonquin tribes OF
indiana made drink from the pound
ed nuts, shells and all, and called Il
"powcohickora.' Recent botanists
have adopted the latter part Of tho
indian name, with slight change
thicoria) as the name Of the genus,
which seems very fitting.
We scarcely think Of the pecan rs
a hickory. yet It Is the largest Of our
hickories. 1t Is native of the south.
ern and southwestern countries Of the
State and grows to perfection In the
rich. moist soils Of river bottoms.
The wood Of the pecan Is hard, brit.
tie, OF light reddish brown and 10
the least valuable OF all the hickories,
except for fuel, and for its nuts
which are collected and sold In all
the markets Of the North. What the
pecan Is to the river valley people
the shellbark, shagbark and mocker.
nut hickories might. with little fore.
thought and care. become to the peo.
pie living on the uplands further
north.
The black walnut 10 grand tree
growing In river bottoms and on hill.
sides west from western Massachu.
sets to Minnesota and southwark to
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and
Texas. The trunk is tall and straight.
The branches are stout and spread.
ing, forming round topped tree
when grown in the open.
The flowers OF the walnut are much
like those OF the hickory except that
the pistillate flowers, instead Of be-
ing yellowish green are Of rich red.
The pistils as in the case OF the
hickory divide into two plumy heads.
The nutriment which nature pro-
vides for baby walnuts and hickories
IL stored in the seed leaves. While
the pollen IL flying from the boughs
the forming nut has four communi.
eating chambers in which one EN-.
bryo plant lives all alone. Al the
seed leaves are packed with oils and
starches for the sustenance OF the
young tree they swell and stretch and
soon occupy the entire four roomed
apartment. when they have attain.
ed their growth they are lobed and
folded 20 az to fll every Granny OF
the nutshell in which they lie. This
10 the reason that the kernels show
such irregular surfaces when taken
from the shells.
The family's botanic name, Juglans,
Ia derived from Jovis glans-Jovo's
nut. Roman writer's applied this
mare to the European walnut on &c
count OF the excellence Of its nuts
loves acorn was the walnut Of com.
iuerce, for curiously enough It was
this nut. not the afuit OF the oak,
which the Romans called an acorn.
Indiana Farmer.