342 



ARnuKICrLTrRE 



The Honey Locust. 



Glvditi<ch ill (riucu nthon 



An unwarranti'il preiljiitiit-e exists aniunj^ 

 many who plant trees, against this, one of 

 the most magnificent shatle tress of America. 



Where in all the wide world can he found 

 a handsomer tree than the one which we 

 illustrate on the opposite page? 



No tree in existence possesses a more 

 beautiful or more graceful foliage, sprays 

 of which were shown in Arboriculture for 

 October 1902. 



The trees are perfectly hardy in all por- 

 tions of the rnite(] States, it being one of 

 half a dozen species of American trees 

 which have survived through thirty years 

 of neglect, among the hundreds planted by 

 S. T. Kelsey for the Santa Fe Railway in 

 western Kansas. 



The Honey Locust has few insect pests 

 and no serious disease to contend with. It 

 is by no means a slow growing tree, if rea- 

 sonable care is used in the planting and 

 subsequent treatment. If one will plant a 

 tree in a hole suited only for a fence post, 

 by all means stick a Cottonwood in, but 

 if a satisfactory progress in growth is 

 desired and expected, in any tine tree, large 

 holes, well filled with good soil must be 

 prepared. 



Few, if any of the beautiful avenues of 

 of trees in Washington (.'ity surpass those 

 of the Honey Locust which were planted by 

 Wdliam Saunders while he was Commis- 

 sioner of Parks for the District of Columbia. 



There is not one tree in Salt Lake City 

 which is so handsome or so grand for shade 

 as those on Second Street South, about 

 Second West. Here are several very large 

 and fine Honey Locust trees which ought 

 to be a pattern for Ctah tree planters. 



The Honey Locust makes an excellent 

 screen, where planted closely, and is used in 

 places, for a hedge, but does not thicken 

 up sufliciently to make an effective i)rotec- 

 tion against hogs. 



It has no bad habit of suckering. is one 

 of the cleanest of trees in existence and is 

 entitled to a high place in the estimation 

 of all tree lovers. 



Among trees for city streets, where 

 dust, smoke, street pavements, trami)ing. 



and the constant improvements which are 

 so objectionable to'almost every other tree, 

 the Honey Locust grows right along, afford- 

 ing a shade and grateful for the little 

 favors it receives. Yet with better treat- 

 ment it shows its gratitude in the brighter 

 color and greater beauty of its foliage. 



But little pruning is re(|uired with this 

 tree as it naturally forms a round head 

 with spreading branches if left to choose 

 for itself. 



The tree shown in our illustration has 

 simply been left alone. \o knife having 

 ever been applied in pruning. The soil is 

 fertile however. The spread of branches 

 covers sixty feet diameter and it is about 

 that height. 



The Honey Locust is an acacia — and has 

 no relationship with the black or yellow 

 locust which is Roltiuia iixriKhicacia. 



The flowers are inconsjiicuous and would 

 not be found except upon close examina- 

 tion. These are succeeded by long, broad 

 curled pods, which contain the hard, horny 

 seeds, embeded in a sweetish, honey like 

 wax. 



A small variety, G. aquatica grows in 

 swamps. 



There is a disputed question in regard to 

 the durability of the wood when used for 

 posts, my understanding, however is that 

 mature wood, seasoned, is quite durable. 



The wood is of a redish color, with quite 

 a handsome grain. It makes excellent 

 lumber, suitable for any caliinet work, but 

 the supply is insufficient to give it a market 

 value. 



The ease with which it is grown, hardi- 

 ness, rapid maturity, and general value of 

 the timber should c«»mmend the Honey 

 Locust for extensive forest planting. 



In sprouting the seed for planting they 

 should be soaked in (|uite hot water for a 

 long time. Otherwise they may remain in 

 the ground several years. When cattle eat 

 the pods, of which they are fond, the seeds 

 are softened while passing through the 

 animal's stomach, and all grow the first sea- 

 son. Thus they are found in pastures in 

 dense thickets. 



