232 



ARBORICULTURE 



The Black- LcKList. 



Rohitiia Pscudacacia. 



\\\- have received nianv letters from 

 correspondents who ask for advice and 

 information as to tlie desirabiHty of 

 ])lantin_ij the locust. 



It is not <j:eneally known that the locust 

 is a native American forest tree, grow- 

 ino; upon the Blue Rid.e:e Mountains iii 

 \'irc:inia and extendinc: on the hit^hlands 

 into other states. 



It has lon^ been a favorite street tree 

 for certain locations, but- is fallint^ into 

 disuse, larijely on accoinit of its sucker- 

 inj; habit, sprouts coming- up amonjj: the 

 grass of lawns which are very persistent. 



Botanists recognize but one form of the 

 locust, and the closest observation I have 

 given fails to discern any material diiYer- 

 ence other than what results from soil and 

 location, ^'et there are many who claim 

 yellow locust and black locust to be two 

 distinct varieties. 



Some years ago I visited. Long Island, 

 where yellow locust was being sold as a 

 distinct variety. I found a material dif- 

 ference in size and density of the wood 

 grown on the north shore from the tim- 

 ber of the West, but in the flower and 

 every detail decided there was but one 

 species. 



In rich loam and ample water the 

 growth is very rank, while in the impov- 

 erished soil of the north shore the slov»- 

 ness of growth caused it to be more dense. 



There are places where the locust is 

 more desirable for forest planting than a 

 majority of other trees. On clay soil, 

 among rocks and gravel, and on ])Oor 

 lands which will not maintain a good 

 growth of timber, the locust will often 

 succeed while failure would result from 

 planting better timber. 



The wood is close grained, quite dura- 

 ble, and makes excellent fence posts. It 

 it quickly renewed, from the stump and 

 from suckers when the trees are felled. 

 When once planted the trees become per- 

 manent. Thus it is of value for the hill 

 lands along the Ohio \''alley and similar 

 localities. 



It cannot be made into lumber on ac- 

 count of its habit of growing in folds as 

 it becomes old. There are compara- 

 tivelv few uses to which the locust can be 



protitabl) put — fence posts being the 

 principal one. 



I'.very farm should have a part of the 

 rough land in .some kind of post timber. 



Tlie borers sometimes destroy entire 

 groves, but as it gains in root power 

 aiul vigor it overcomes these attacks. 



The beauty and fragrance of the locust 

 blo.ssoms are well known. Good, rich 

 land may be more profitably em])loyed by 

 planting walnut, cak. catalpa and trees 

 which are valuable as lumber, cross-ties, 

 etc.. for which the locust is not suited. 

 Attempts have bee!i made U) adaj)! locust 

 for cross-ties, but they have all resulted 

 in failure. Spikes camiot be driven with- 

 out first boring holes and then they can- 

 not be drawn when necessar\- to change 

 track : besides the timber splits too 

 readily. 



In time of wooden block pavements, 

 this wood was largely used, but round 

 paving blocks have been quite unsatis- 

 factory, except in Chicago, where they 

 give emploNnient to many in their fre- 

 (pient renewals and su])ply fuel in time 

 of coal famine. 



Wagon hubs are sometimes made of 

 locust, and on the sea coast it is utilized 

 for knees and other boat timbers, belay- 

 ing ])ins, etc. Tclegra])h companies use it 

 for ])ins, for insulator supports on cross- 

 arms, for which there is an increasing de- 

 mand. The durability and strength of 

 the wood make it s])eciallv valuable for 

 this ]nir])ose. 



l-"or coniilr\ lelephont' lines where ex- 

 treme length and straightness are not 

 ref|uired. the young ])oles are useful. 



The locust does not increase in value 

 rapidlv after it has attained a diameter 

 of twelve inches.-^vhen it should be cut 

 and new growths ])ermitted. 



( )ur illustration on page opposite is a 

 grove of locust in Springville. Utah. 

 The growth of the locust under 

 irrigation. with hot. dry atmos- 

 phere, is very good. The bark 

 has a character quite different than that 

 in the I'-ast. being more roughly fur- 

 rowed. The value of the locust for rough 

 lands, unprofitable for cultivation, can 

 scarcelv be overestimated, since our farm 

 fences must be maintained in all parts 

 of .\merica. 



