Value for planting: The chestnut is one of the most rapidly growing hardwood trees but, on account of its disease, which is now prevalent everywhere, it is not wise to plant chestnut trees for the present.
Commercial value: The wood is light, not very strong and liable to warp. It is durable when brought in contact with the soil and is therefore used for railroad ties, fence-posts, poles, and mine timbers. It is also valuable for interior finish in houses and for fuel. Its bark is used in the manufacture of tanning extracts and the nuts are sold in cities in large quantities.
GROUP IX. THE HICKORIES, WALNUT AND BUTTERNUT
How to tell them from other trees and from each other: The hickory trees, though symmetrical, have a rugged _appearance_ and the _branches_ are so sturdy and black as to give a special distinction to this group. The _buds_ are different from the buds of all other trees and sufficiently characteristic to distinguish the various species of the group. The _bark_ is also a distinguishing character.
The walnut and butternut have _chambered piths_ which distinguish them from all other trees and from each other.
Distinguishing characters: The yellowish brown *buds* nearly as large as those of the mockernut hickory, _are each provided with two long, dark, outer scales_ which stand out very conspicuously as shown in Fig. 67. The *bark* in older specimens *shags* off in rough strips, sometimes more than a foot long, as shown in Fig. 68. These two characters will readily distinguish the tree at all seasons of the year.
[Illustration: FIG. 66.--A Shagbark Hickory Tree.]
Leaf: The leaf is compound, consisting of 5 or 7 leaflets, the terminal one generally larger.
Form and size: A tall, stately tree--the tallest of the hickories--of rugged form and fine symmetry, see Fig. 66.
Soil and location: The shagbark hickory grows in a great variety of soils, but prefers a deep and rather moist soil.
Enemies: The _hickory bark borer_ (_Scolytus quadrispinosus_) is its principal enemy. The insect is now killing thousands of hickory trees in the vicinity of New York City and on several occasions has made its appearance in large numbers in other parts of the country.
Value for planting: It is difficult to transplant, grows slowly and is seldom found in nurseries.