Hickories
According to Alfred Rehder, of Harvard, in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, six species of hickory are indigenous to that region east of the Rocky Mountains here discussed under the term of the northernmost nut zone. These are the shagbark, the shellbark, the sweet hickory, the pignut, the mockernut and the bitternut. The shagbark hickory, Hicoria ovata, and the sweet hickory, H. ovalis, are the principal ones among this group offering promise as sources of varieties fit for cultivation in this zone. The former is well known as a rich-land species, having shaggy bark and a more or less sharply angled sweet nut; the latter, often called pignut, has recently been listed as "sweet hickory" to distinguish it from H. glabra, also called pignut, yet which is sometimes better. The sweet hickory is less exacting in soil requirements than the shagbark, although often nearly or quite as good a nut, popular prejudice notwithstanding. When shelled the kernels can be distinguished only with difficulty.
Of the other hickories indigenous to this zone, all are omitted from the discussion for definite reasons, chief of which is the fact that few or no seedlings of promise have been found. The shellbark, H. laciniosa, which is much like the shagbark in many respects, occurs in this zone sparingly and only in the southernmost part. Nuts of this species, while very large, are thick-shelled and commonly more or less objectionable because of the frequency with which the kernels are imperfectly developed or entirely wanting. The pignut hickory, H. glabra, already mentioned, is omitted from further discussion because of being no better than the sweet hickory in any known respect, and because of the frequent bitterness of its kernel. The mockernut, H. alba, while indigenous practically everywhere that any other hickory grows, and producing a sweet, agreeable kernel, has too thick a shell to justify particular attention at this time. The bitternut hickory, H. cordiformis, is rarely palatable. The tree makes an attractive ornamental, but is relatively unimportant in so far as timber production is concerned.
Intermediate forms of hickory and hybrids originated from chance crosses under purely natural conditions are fairly common. Quite a good many belonging to one or the other of these groups have been brought to light during the last two decades, largely as a result of discovery by the Northern Nut Growers Association. Several of these will be discussed in alphabetical order along with varieties of pure species.
ANTHONY—The Anthony shagbark originated with a seedling tree discovered by Mr. A. B. Anthony, R. F. D. 6, Sterling, Whiteside County, Ill. It appears to be a particularly choice variety, and as the latitude of Sterling is practically the same as that of Chicago, it might do very well in the lower portion of the northernmost zone. In a cracking test of the 1932 crop the yield of quarters was 41.66, that of small pieces 0.60, making a total of 42.26 per cent. The nuts were large, averaging 74 per pound; attractive in appearance, clean, and of nearly white color. The cracking quality was good, the kernel plump, bright, rich in quality and medium sweet in flavor, but not being equal to some others in this last respect. This is believed to be one of the choicest hickory nuts yet brought to light.
CEDAR RAPIDS—This shagbark is from Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, where the latitude is about 42 degrees north, or about the same as that of Chicago, Ill., Tecumseh, Mich., and the boundary line between Pennsylvania and New York. Like Anthony (of Sterling, Ill.) the merit of this variety is believed such as to justify its trial planting in the southern portion of the northernmost zone.
The Cedar Rapids shagbark was discovered and brought to light by the late S. W. Snyder, senior member of Snyder Bros., Inc., nurserymen at Center Point, Iowa. The exact or even approximate year of discovery and first propagation is not known to the writer, but a remark made by Mr. Snyder during the 1930 convention, and passed on to him by Dr. Deming, would indicate that grafts were made as early as 1914. It was, "a Cedar Rapids shagbark grafted on a hickory (probably meaning shagbark), bore in its third year and has borne every year since, but the same variety grafted 16 years ago on a bitternut has not borne." In various comments made by Mr. Snyder from time to time, especially in connection with the Iowa meetings of the State Horticultural Society and of the Mid-West Horticultural Exposition, he continued to rate this as one of the best varieties within his acquaintance. There are a number of grafted trees of this variety in various parts of the country, but very few yet in bearing. The department at Washington has had no opportunity to test the nuts in detail.
(There is also a variety of bitternut from Iowa known as Cedar Rapids, but the two are quite unlike and should not be confused.)
COMINS—The original tree of the Comins shagbark hickory, awarded eighth prize in the 1929 contest, is owned by Mrs. Nancy E. Comins, Amherst, Hampshire County, Mass. This variety is probably worthy of further investigation, although specimens of the 1929 crop examined at Washington did not appear to as good advantage as did many others.
CREAGER—The Creager hickory is a supposed shagbark and bitternut hybrid known since about 1925, when it was given a high rating, named, propagated and disseminated to a limited extent by Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Iowa. It was called to their attention by Mr. W. O. Creager, Sumner, Bremer County, Iowa, discoverer of the original tree. The nuts are quite small, averaging in a test made in Washington of the 1930 crop 149 per pound. The yield of kernel was 30.27 per cent quarters, 8.76 per cent small pieces, and the total 39.04 per cent. As this test was made in February, 1932, the nuts were more than a year old, and allowance should be made for this fact. The parent tree had been cut down in the meantime and nuts were not obtainable later.
The shells of the nut are quite thin, easy to crack, and the kernels fairly sweet. Like most others when their parentage involves a cross with the bitternut, a distinct bitterness of flavor hangs over in the mouth as an after-taste.
The grafted tree is said to be a rapid grower and so highly ornamental as to be well worth growing for its beauty alone. A few trees of such a hybrid as this should be in any variety test planting wherever they will succeed. As the latitude of Sumner is 43 degrees, this hybrid should be of interest as far north as Milwaukee, Wis.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Buffalo, N. Y., and the northern boundary line of Massachusetts. Being primarily an ornamental, the Creager might be grown with safety even farther north.
DENNIS—The Dennis shagbark hickory is another variety brought to light by Snyder Bros., Inc., of Center Point, Ia. The original tree was found near the City of Cedar Rapids and called to their attention by the late Dr. A. B. Dennis of that city. Information is lacking as to the exact year, but according to Mr. Bixby's address before the 1920 convention of the Association, Snyder Bros. used Dennis in 1916 in top-working.
No test of the nuts by the department has yet been possible. However, Mr. S. W. Snyder wrote in 1926 that he then considered the Dennis "... the best shagbark yet discovered in Iowa." He added further that "where the nuts are gathered and hulled promptly after ripening, the color of the shell is usually highly attractive." He also stated that the shell was quite thin, and owing to its inner structure the kernels could be extracted easily. He regarded the quality of the kernel as rich and the flavor sweet and pleasing.
This variety is represented in several known plantings and abundant nuts for testing should soon be procurable. Meanwhile, the variety should be included in further test plantings of the northernmost zone.
DREW—The Drew hickory is a shagbark named in honor of Mr. Arthur Drew of Howell, Livingston County, Mich., by whom it was called to attention in 1916. The parent tree stands on the Lyman Beach farm, Marion township, about six miles southwest from the post office. It was then one of many young seedlings less than forty feet tall standing in a cattle pasture. When first examined the nuts were unimpressive, but later specimens received high rating. The tree is difficult to reach and its exact identity probably known only to Mr. Drew.
The latitude of origin, the early age of bearing, and the superiority of nut, both with reference to cracking quality and merit of kernel, seem to call for further study.
EMERICK—This shagbark was discovered by Prof. L. H. MacDaniels of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Specimens of the 1932 crop were submitted to him by Miss Etta Emerick, West Camp, Ulster County, New York. In Washington seven of these nuts averaged 67 per pound and yielded 33.33 per cent quarters, 2.22 per cent small pieces, and a total of 35.55 per cent kernel. The cracking quality was very good and the nuts otherwise appeared to be of considerable promise.
FAIRBANKS—This is a hybrid hickory, apparently the result of a chance cross between shagbark and bitternut. The parent tree was discovered by the late S. W. Snyder, of Center Point, Iowa, probably about 1912. It then stood near a line fence on the farm of Mr. C. A. Fairbanks, nine miles northwest of Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa. With reference to the merit of this variety, the late Mr. Bixby once commented, "A heavy bearer, nuts attractive, large, smooth and thin-shelled. The variety has about all the good points desirable except that its palatability is too low. It is the Ben Davis of the hickories."
The latitude of Anamosa is such that the Fairbanks should be hardy in the south three or four tiers of counties of Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and over much of Massachusetts. It has been widely disseminated, and because of the popular feeling in its favor, will likely continue to be planted in experimental orchards.
GREEN—The parent tree of the Green sweet hickory is owned by Mr. Steve Green, R. F. D. 9, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Mich. It was brought to attention in 1929, when it was awarded fifth prize by the Association among the hickory entries that year. This variety is the first of its species (Hicoria ovalis) to have received a prize from the Association.
HUBER—The Huber shagbark hickory originated with a seedling tree owned by Mr. Ferdinand Huber, Cochrane, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It came to light in 1929, when it was awarded second prize in the Association contest.
HUFF—Like Green, this variety is a sweet hickory, Hicoria ovalis. The parent tree is owned by L. S. Huff, White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Aside from the fact that it was awarded ninth prize in the Association contest of 1929, little is known as to its merits.
LANEY—This variety was brought to light by the late John Dunbar, First Assistant Superintendent of Parks in Rochester, New York, who wrote the department in Washington on March 13, 1916, that the original tree was on a farm owned by Mr. R. J. Sheard, superintendent of a cemetery in Webster County, New York. It appears to be the result of a natural cross between the shagbark and the bitternut hickories. It was given the species name Laneyi by Sargent in his Manual of the Trees of North America, in honor of Mr. C. C. Laney, Superintendent of Parks, in Rochester, by whom it had been called to his attention.
This variety is probably of chief value for ornamental and breeding purposes. The nuts are large, like those of Fairbanks, attractive, thin-shelled, easy to crack and of pleasing palatability to some people. Upon becoming thoroughly cured, especially after a few months, the disagreeable taste characteristic of bitternut usually becomes quite pronounced.
MANN—This shagbark hickory came to light when awarded first prize in the Michigan contest of 1932, held under the direction of Prof. James A. Neilson, East Lansing. The parent tree is owned by Mrs. Rae D. Mann, R. F. D. 3, Davison, Genesee County, Mich. In a cracking test of nuts from the crop of 1932, conducted in Washington, the average was 75 per pound; the yield of quarters was 43.52 per cent, that of small pieces 3.53 per cent, making a total of 47.06 per cent. The cracking quality was excellent, the kernels large, plump, of rich quality and particularly sweet flavor. The kernels were a trifle dark, but otherwise this hickory appears to be one of the most promising kinds yet discovered.
MILLER—This shagbark hickory is another apparently highly promising variety, brought to light as a result of Professor Neilson's efforts. It was awarded second prize in the 1932 state contest held under his direction. The parent tree is owned by Mr. D. P. Miller, Route 3, North Branch, Lapeer County, Mich. It and Mann are from adjoining counties, and the parent trees are probably not over twenty miles apart. The two are of about equal merit and much alike, although Miller nuts are somewhat smaller. In the cracking test of the 1932 contest, fifty nuts weighed one-half pound. Of these, two were spoiled, yet the percentage of quarters was 48.02, that of small pieces 1.32, thus making a total of 49.34 per cent kernel.
The cracking quality was excellent, the kernel a trifle dark, yet very plump, rich and sweet.
SANDE—The Sande shagbark hickory is from the farm of Elmer T. Sande, Story City, Story County, Iowa, about sixteen miles north of Ames. It was brought to light by the late S. W. Snyder as early as November, 1928, when he became responsible for having it mentioned (p. 24) in the premium list of the Seventh Mid-West Horticultural Exposition held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 14 to 17. It received seventh prize in the 1929 contest of the Northern Nut Growers Association.
Mr. Snyder commented on this variety, as recorded in the 1930 proceedings of the Northern Nut Growers Association (p. 15), to the effect that the cracking quality of the Sande excelled that of any other variety of Iowa origin known to him at that time. The variety has twice received awards during the State Fair of Iowa. Mr. Snyder stated that the parent tree was then rather young but bearing well.
As the latitude of Story City is slightly greater than 42 degrees, this variety should do well throughout much of the northernmost zone.
SWAIM—The parent tree of the Swaim shagbark hickory stands on Maplewood farm, R. F. D. 1, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Ind., and is now owned by Mr. I. H. Swaim. It is one of a number of seedlings growing from local nuts planted during the early sixties by the late J. M. Swaim, grandfather of the present Mr. Swaim. It was called to the attention of the department in 1912 by Mr. H. H. Swaim, father of the present owner of the tree, who is still living near by on the same mail route.
The Swaim was first propagated about 1914 by W. C. Reed of Vincennes, Ind., who has found it a highly satisfactory variety, with reference to regularity and size of crops and general merit of nuts.
The Swaim is one of three varieties to tie for fourth place in the contest of the Association held in 1919. In a cracking test conducted in Washington with one pound of the 1930 crop, the nuts averaged 84 per pound and yielded 44.73 per cent of quarters, 4.62 per cent small pieces, and 0.44 per cent of bad kernels, thus making a total of 49.78 per cent of kernel. The cracking quality that year was excellent, the kernels large, plump, and bright. The quality was rich and the flavor sweet and pleasing.
As the city of South Bend is but a few miles below the Michigan state line, this variety should be well worth considering for use in test plantings throughout the lower fringe of the northernmost zone.
WESTPHAL—The Westphal is a shagbark hickory from Mr. Otto Westphal, R. F. D. 2, Kendall, Monroe County, Wis. It was awarded fourth place in the 1926 contest of the Philadelphia Society of Agriculture. So far as known, no other examination has been made of the nuts. However, the place they received in this contest, together with its latitude of origin, which is nearly 44 degrees, should commend the Westphal to the consideration of all who are interested in hickories for the northernmost region.