138 THE LOCUST. 



THE HONEY LOCUST. 



The Honey Locust is not an uncommon tree in the en- 

 closures of suburban dwellings, and by the waysides in 

 many parts of the country. Some of them have at- 

 tained a great height, overtopping all our shade-trees 

 except the elm and the oak. This tree in June bears 

 flowers without any beauty, hanging from the branches in 

 small greenish aments. The outer bark peels from the 

 trunk, like that of the shellbark hickory. The thorns in- 

 vesting the trunk as well as the boughs are very singular, 

 consisting of one long spine with two and sometimes more 

 shorter ones projecting out of it, like two little branches, 

 near its base. Three is the prevailing number of these 

 compound thorns. Hence the name of Three-Thorned 

 Acacia applied to the Honey Locust. 



This tree bears some resemblance to the common Locust ; 

 but its leaflets are smaller, and of a lighter green. It is 

 not liable, however, to the attacks of insects, and is seen, 

 therefore, in all its normal and beautiful proportions. 

 It displays much of the elegance of the tropical acacias 

 in the minute division and symmetry of its compound 

 leaves. These are of a light and brilliant green, and He 

 flat upon the branches, giving them a fan-like appearance, 

 such as we observe in the hemlock. Though its princi- 

 pal branches are given out at an acute angle, many of 

 them are horizontal, extending outwards with frequent 

 contortions. The Honey Locust derives its name from 

 the sweetness of the pulp that envelops the seeds con- 

 tained in their large flat pods. This tree is not an un- 

 common hedge plant in Massachusetts, but it is not found 

 in the New England forest. Its native region is the 

 wide valley between the Alleghanies and the Mississippi 

 Eiver. 



