Nat. Ord. (Natural Order) Juglandace�. Lin. Syst. (Linnean System) Mon�cia, Polyandria. The hickories are fine and lofty North American trees, highly valuable for their wood, and the excellent fruit borne by some of the species. The timber is extremely elastic, and very heavy, possessing great strength and tenacity. It is not much employed in architecture, as it is peculiarly liable to the attacks of worms, and decays quickly when exposed to moisture. But it is very extensively employed for all purposes requiring great elasticity and strength; as for axletrees, screws, the wooden rings used upon the rigging of vessels, whip-handles, and axe-handles; and an immense quantity of the young poles are employed in the manufacture of hoops, for which they are admirably adapted. For fuel, no American wood is equal to this in the brilliancy with which it burns, or in the duration or amount of heat given out by it: it therefore commands the highest price in market for that purpose.
