Hickory-Nut
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Read about Hickory-Nut in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Hickory-Nut. Notwithstanding the high esteem in which the nuts of several species of hickory have been held since the settlement of America by the white men, but little progress has been made in their domestication and improvement. Out of the nine or ten species recognized by botanists, not more than three or four have been found sufficiently promising from an economic standpoint to justify conspicuous effort at amelioration. Of these the pecan (Carya Pecan) stands easily first, followed in order of apparent value by the shagbark (little shellbark), C. ovata; the shell- bark (big shellbark), C. laciniosa, and the pignut, C. glabra. The pecan differs in its requirements of soil and climate from the other species, and is described separately under Pecan. For the botany of the hickories, see Carya. In flavor and quality of kernel, the shagbark is insure the preservation of the variety, is that suggested by Fuller in his "Nut Culturist," which was apparently one of the first methods successfully esteemed by most Americans as the choicest of native employed in shagbark propagation. This consists in nuts, though in these respects the shellbark is but lit- the "turning up or exposing at the surface of the tie inferior to it. The thinner shell and larger proportion of kernel have given the former precedence over the latter in most cultural efforts; though the thrifty growth, symmetrical form and luxuriant foliage of the latter render it one of the most handsome and useful of native trees for roadside or lawn planting. The shagbark has the broader area of natural distribution, being found in localities throughout most of the United States to the eastward of the Great Plains, except on the lowlands of the South Atlantic coast and Gulf states. The shellbark is mainly confined to the valley of the Mississippi and its larger tributaries, extending eastward, however, into eastern Pennsylvania and western New York. The pignut, which is similar to the shagbark in area of distribution, is much inferior to the others in quality, but shows wider variation than either in this respect, and has disclosed at least one variety of distinct cultural merit. As the hickories, other than the pecan, are slow-growing species at best, they should not be planted on other than fertile soil. The shellbark is native to river bottoms, and requires richer land than the others, which endure a rather wide range of soil characteristics, provided there is sufficient depth and good drainage. Deep, well-drained fertile loams, either of sandy or clayey nature, are acceptable to all the species. Propagation. All the species are propagated by seed. Planting is frequently done in autumn, but, to lessen the destruction by rodents, is more safely done in early spring. In such case the freshly gathered nuts, after removal from the hulls, should be stored in slightly dampened sand during the winter or stratified, as other tree seeds. Uniformity of growth is promoted by planting nuts where trees are to stand, as the transplanting process in ordinary seasons is accompanied by a considerable loss. If trees must be transplanted, it is probably best to transplant annually in nursery rows, in rich soil, to promote growth of fibrous roots and lessen the shock of final transplanting to the permanent location. The propagation of the hickories (except the pecan) by budding and grafting, is exceedingly difficult, even the most experienced propagators securing but a partial stand in the nursery, under favorable conditions. This fact coupled with the comparatively high mortality in transplanting such trees from the nursery has greatly retarded the dissemination of the many choice varieties that have been located in the form of seedling trees, during the past quarter-century. One of the simplest methods of multiplying the stock of a choice tree, to a limited extent, and thus to ground of side roots, severed from the parent tree." The severed side roots are straightened up and tied to stakes to hold them in position with their cut ends about level with the surface of the ground to stimulate the formation of shoots from adventitious buds, one of which is eventually made the trunk of the new tree. The lower end of the root is not severed until the top has formed, when the new tree should be transplanted to its permanent location in rich and mellow soil and kept well mulched until thoroughly established. The method is slow and sharply limited in extent of application but is perhaps the surest in the hands of the amateur grower. The late Jackson Dawson, the very skilful propagator of woody plants at Arnold Arboretum, achieved a considerable degree of success in propagating the shag- bark by side-grafting on specially grown bitternut (C. minima) seedlings. He grew the seedlings in boxes 4 inches deep, for one or two years until of sufficient size for grafting. The seedlings were then transferred to pots in autumn and taken into the greenhouse about January 1. They were side- grafted, close to the collar. As soon as the roots began to start, the potted trees were plunged in sphagnum to the top bud of the cion and left until March to callus. As improvement in method and technique in pecan-propagation has been accomplished by southern nurserymen during the past ten years, considerable attention has been given to the hickory by some of them, with the result that a certain degree of success has been attained with the annular and patch-bud methods, both in nursery propagation and top- working. Unfortunately, in many cases, the shagbark has been budded upon southern pecan seedlings, the ability of which to endure the minimum temperatures of the northern regions where the principal interest in shagbark planting exists is at least very doubtful. The cleft-grafting of thoroughly established stocks at the crown, in early spring, has thus far proved the most practical method for the average propagator. This is accomplished by removing the earth to a depth of 3 to 4 inches from the base of the tree. The stock is cut off with a fine saw about 2 inches below the ground-line or at the top of the root-swelling. Cions having terminal buds should be inserted by either center or side-graft methods. The entire stump should then be carefully mounded over to the top buds of the cion with fine earth of a texture that will retain moisture without baking. The cions should be cut when entirely dormant and held in sphagnum or sawdust in an ice-house or elsewhere to keep the buds from swelling until the stocks are starting. The young growth needs to be carefully staked until the wood has hardened, as it is soft and easily broken. See Grafting. Planting. The hickories are transplanted with such difficulty that the utmost care in preparing the soil for them is required. This should be rich, deep and thoroughly drained. Planting may be done either in autumn or early spring. Pruning should be restricted to the removal of bruised or injured roots. Heavy mulch should be applied and maintained until trees are thoroughly established. After that little attention is required. Production and use. The fairly abundant supply of shagbarks and shell- barks in our markets is derived entirely from seedling trees. By far the larger part of this is from second- growth trees in fence-rows or the open fields where the conditions are more favorable to nut-production than in the forests. In southern New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, the shag- bark product is a highly prized supplemental crop on many farms. In some sections, as in southeastern Pennsylvania, the nuts are cracked by the women and children, the shelled meats being marketed in considerable quantities at satisfactory prices, many consumers preferring them to any other nut. Varieties. As the attention of amateurs has been concentrated on the subject in recent years, many wild trees yielding choice nuts have been located and preserved. A considerable number of these have received varietal names, but only a few have actually been propagated in such way that trees are obtainable at nurseries even in small numbers. The qualities that should be considered in shagbarks and shellbarks from the commercial viewpoint are: (1) cracking quality, including easy release of the kernel: (2) thinness of shell; (3) size of nut; (4) plumpness and flavor of kernel; (5) productiveness. The following sorts are worthy of consideration by those who are interested in testing representative sorts. Not all of them are yet to be had from nurseries. Shagbarks. Curtis.—Connecticut. A smooth nut of medium size, slightly compressed; kernel plump, light in color and of good quality; shell thin; cracking quality good. Dtmr.—Pennsylvania. A medium-sized angular nut, rather broad at the base, but having a long and sharp basal point; shell moderately thin; cracking quality good; quality good. Eliot.—Connecticut. Of medium size, compressed, angular, ovate, with prominent tip; kernel plump; flavor mild and pleasant; shell thin; cracking quality good. Hales (Holes Papersheu).—New Jersey. Large, quadrangular, slightly compressed, with a peculiar wavy surface; kernel rather deeply corrugated, but plump and of good quality, retaining its sweetness for two years or more; shell thin and of fair cracking quality. The Hales nut is the first-named variety of hickory, having been described and illustrated by A. S. Fuller in "The Rural New Yorker" in 1870. It is probably the only sort now obtainable at the nurseries. The original tree bears a fair crop annually, and numerous younger trees grafted from it are now in bearing. Jackson.—Ohio. A compressed oval nut of large size; kernel large, plump, and of excellent quality; shell thin; cracking quality medium. Fig. 1836. Kentucky.—Northern Kentucky. A nut of medium size, with quite angular and somewhat lumpy surface, short, sharp apex and flattened base, having a very short tip: shell moderately thin, kernel very plump, rich and sweet. Fig. 1837. Kirtland.—Quadrangular, above medium size, slightly ridged and having a rather lumpy surface; shell thin, with excellent crocking quality; kernel plump, rich and of good flavor. Fig. 1837. Leaming.—Missouri. A large nut of fine flavor and excellent cracking quality; the kernel coming out in unbroken halves. Meriden.—Connecticut. Large, oblong, compressed; kernel large and of good quality; shell rather thick but cracks well. Fig. 1836. Milford.—Massachusetts. A compressed ovate nut, medium to large in size, with large, plump kernel of excellent quality; cracks well; one of the best nuts yet brought to notice. Fig. 1836. Rice.-—Ohio. Angular, ovate, medium to large in size; kernel plump, bright and of fine quality; shell thin and of good cracking quality; tree regularly productive. Swain.—Indiana. A rather long nut of medium size, with sharp apex and irregularly pointed base; surface rough; shell thin; cracking quality fair; kernel plump and sweet. Fig. 1837. Vest.—Virginia. Of medium size, distinctly quadrangular with very lumpy surface; shell very thin and papery; kernel deeply corrugated but plump and of good quality. Woodbournt.—Pennsylvania. Long, compressed ovate, large and smooth; kernel tender and of very high quality; shell rather thick but cracks well. Shellbarks. Lefevre.—Pennsylvania. Large, quadrangular, slightly ridged; shell thin, cracking fairly well; kernel very large, plump, rich and sweet. Rieke.—Illinois. Above medium size, elongated, with a long, sharp apex and flattened base; shell moderately thick, cracking quality very good; kernel fairly plump and sweet. Fig. 1837. Weiker.—Pennsylvania. Large, elongated, with moderately thick shell, cracking easily; kernel plump, rich and of good flavor. Fig. 1837. Pignut. Of the somewhat numerous sweet-flavored forms found in this species, the following one at least has been deemed worthy of perpetuation because of its delicate flavor, thin shell, and excellent cracking quality. Brackett.—Iowa. Roundish compressed, smooth and of grayish color, medium to large in size; kernel plump, sweet and of delicate flavor; shell very thin, and easily freed from the kernel. Wm. A. Taylor.
The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text. |
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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