28o 



ARBORICULTURE. 



one 8 feet circumference, the tree being 

 about 60 feet in height. 



It is estimated that the larger branch 

 will make thirty-five fence posts, and the 

 smaller one twenty-five posts, or, in all, 

 sixty ordinary-sized fence posts. 



At the customary price O'f posts in the 

 locality, after deducting the cost of la- 

 bor in making them, the tree would sell 

 for about ten dollars. It is evident that, 

 as an incentive tO' forest planting upon 

 American farms, this tree would not be 

 very encouraging, being an interest upon 

 the investment, say one hundred such 

 trees on an acre, of one-seventh of one 

 per cent, per annum, which sustains our 

 argument that nO' locust trees should be 

 allowed to stand more than a dozen 

 years, as at that age they are of greatest 

 value; and since the trees are quickly re- 

 produced from bo'th roots and stump, 

 after cutting, the grove should be thinned 

 frequently for most economical results. 



The average diameter increase has 

 been about one-half inch per annum, at 

 the ground. Our engraving shows the 

 characteristic shape of old locust trees, 

 crooked, irregular and much branched. 



Farmers who have rough land may 

 make it very profitably productive by 

 planting locust trees upon it ; but as we 

 have often mentioned, the locust grove 

 is of greater value to the owner if the 

 trees are cut when about ten or twelve 

 inches diameter, as the increase up to 

 that time is far greater than any subse- 

 quent increase. 



No timber, not even locust, should be 

 used for posts or poles when freshly cut. 

 Their durability is greatly enhanced by 

 being dry and thoroughly seasoned. 



Our engraving shows a tree of slight 

 value for posts, and of nO' value for other 

 purposes, because lacking in straightness 

 of bole, as are most locust trees which 



are grown singly. In a grove this is 

 overcome to a certain extent, at least 

 during the first twelve or fifteen years of 

 its growth. 



Limestone blufifs, steep hillsides, and 

 tracts which can not be profitably culti- 

 vated with annual crops, may be made to 

 produce an excellent revenue if main- 

 tained as a permanent locust grove, cut- 

 ting out a part each year and allowing 

 the suckers to grow intO' post timber. 



The shade from locust trees is not so 

 dense but that blue grass will thrive and 

 make good pasture, which is not the case 

 with most other trees. 



A variety of small articles are made 

 from locust, among them are insulator 

 pins for cross-arms of telegraph poles. 

 Some policeman sticks are made of lo- 

 cust. In a small way the knees and parts 

 of small boats, but noi lumber is or can 

 be cut froim locust, owing toi the pecul- 

 iarity of growth, which we have often 

 explained. 



The wood becomes remarkably hard 

 when dry, and is very difficult tO' drive 

 nails into, as farmers have often found, 

 nor to draw them out when once driv- 

 en in. 



We are glad tO' see many hillsides and 

 broken ground planted with locust, as 

 this tends tO' check erosion, which is 

 ruining so many hill farms, while the 

 climatic effect of the timber is the same 

 as with other kinds of trees. But when 

 railway companies are persuaded to 

 plant good land with locust by young, 

 inexperienced engineers, in hopes of ob- 

 taining cross-ties, they are spending good 

 money in efforts which must always 

 prove futile. 



The wood is totally unfit for cross-ties,, 

 and, while a few ties may be made and 

 used, the extensive use of this wood for 

 tie purposes can never be a success. 



