Leaf, one-fifth natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size.] The _bark_ is dark gray, hard, closely and deeply furrowed often apparently cross-furrowed or netted. The winter buds are large, round or broadly egg-shaped and covered with a downy growth. The _leaves_ are large, strong-scented and hairy, composed of 7 to 9 obovate to oblong, pointed leaflets which turn a beautiful yellow in the fall. The _flowers_, like those of all other hickories, are of two kinds on the same tree; the staminate in three-branched catkins, the pistillate in clusters of 2 to 5. The _fruit_ is oval, nearly round or slightly pear-shaped with a very thick, strong-scented husk which splits nearly to the base when ripe. The nut is of various forms, but sometimes 4 to 6 ridged, light brown, and has a very thick shell and small, sweet kernel. The _wood_ is heavy, hard, tough and strong; it is white excepting the comparatively small, dark-brown heart, hence the name white hickory. It is used for vehicle parts and handles. It furnishes the best of fuel. This and other hickories are very desirable both for forest and shade trees. In the southern part of Illinois, the small fruited or sweet pignut, _Carya ovalis_ Sargent, occurs on rich hillsides. The leaves have 7 leaflets on reddish-brown twigs, with small yellowish winter buds. The nut is an inch long, enclosed in a very thin hairy husk, the shell is thin and the kernel sweet. +PIGNUT HICKORY+ _Carya glabra_ Sweet THE pignut hickory is rare in the northern part of Illinois but occurs plentifully in the rest of the State, growing to a medium sized tree on rich uplands. It has a tapering trunk and a narrow oval head with drooping branches. [Illustration: PIGNUT HICKORY Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, one-half natural size.] The _bark_ is close, ridged and grayish, but occasionally rough and flaky. The twigs are thin, smooth and glossy brown. The _leaves_ are smooth, 8 to 12 inches long and composed of 5 to 7 leaflets. The individual leaflets are rather small and narrow. The _winter buds_ are 1/2 inch long, egg-shaped, polished, and light brown. The _fruit_ is pear-shaped or rounded, usually with a neck at the base, very thin husks splitting only half way to the base or not at all. The nut is smooth, light brown in color, rather thick-shelled, and has a somewhat astringent edible kernel. The _wood_ is heavy, hard, strong, tough and flexible. Its uses are the same as those of the other hickories. Buckley's hickory, _Carya buckleyi_ Durand, occurs on sandy uplands in the southwest. It is a small tree with spreading, contorted branches. The fruit is contained in a hairy husk, the nut is angular, marked with pale veins and has a sweet kernel. +BLUE BEECH+ _Carpinus caroliniana_ Walt.