As we read in the books, the Pig-nut Hickory is "a native of the forests of the United States and Canada, usually growing about 60 feet high, but occasionally reaching 100." On the grounds of Geo. W. Childs, the proprietor of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, we saw one some time since, which on measuring we found had reached the extraordinary height of 113 feet, and had a circumference, 5 feet from the ground, of 12 feet. This grand monarch of its race so impressed its majesty on us, that we have taken its portrait, which we give herewith. It will be seen by the stumpy character of some of its upper branches, that it has seen its best days, and that it is now on its decline; though with the care it is getting from its owner, it will probably take over a hundred years yet, before it is finally gathered with the fathers of its race.

It may be noted that the hickories are closely related to the walnuts, which have the scientific name of Juglans. Our hickories were also called Juglans in the early botanical history of our country. Nuttall first perceived their distinctness and made a new genus under the name of Carya. Both names mean little more than " nut," but the former is Latin, the latter Greek. There are no hickories in any part of the world but North America, and it is to be regretted, perhaps, that some name connected with our own country had not been thought of for them. The species, however, have English names, characteristic if not elegant.

The present species is "Pig-nut," from, we have always supposed, the unshelled fruit resembling the face of a pig. In most cases the husk remains tight over the nut, and tapers down to the stalk like the nose of a pig. This character is not however constant, and some pig-nut hickories split the shell and permit the nuts to fall out, as in other hickories.

Pig-nut Hickory.