TREES AND THEIR VALUE FOR PLANTING 83 



The sapwood rots quickly. A small tree, being all sap, would 

 have to be treated with creosote to use for fence posts. The 

 cherries should be gathered in August or September, the pulp 

 removed by crushing or by mascerating in water, and the pits 

 stratified in moist sand over winter. The seed should be 

 planted in shallow drills in the spring about 2 inches apart. 

 The following spring the seedlings can be set out in the field. 

 The tree should be mixed with some other species, such as 

 white ash, black walnut, sugar maple, etc., rather than be 

 planted pure. At 20 years of age under favorable conditions 

 black cherry will reach a height of 25 to 30 feet and a diameter 

 of 5 to 6 inches. 



Black Locust, Yellow Locust (Robinia pseudacacia) . 

 The natural range of the black locust is in the Eastern United 

 States along the Appalachian Mountains, but it has been 

 planted extensively all over the Eastern part of the country. 

 It does best on deep, well drained, fertile loam, but will grow 

 on almost any soil except a wet, heavy one. It grows exceed- 

 ingly well on limestone soil. It is a rapid-growing tree. On 

 good soil it will grow from 2 to 4 feet in height a year. The 

 wood is strong and very durable. It is well adapted to fence 

 posts, ties, insulator pins, etc. Fence posts can be grown 

 in 20 years. At that age trees will average 5 to 6 inches in 

 diameter at breast height with a height of 40 to 50 feet. The 

 great danger in raising black locust trees is that they are 

 likely to be destroyed by the locust borer, which riddles the 

 wood of the trunk and branches. This insect attacks trees 

 of all sizes, and there seems to be no practical treatment or 

 remedy. It is claimed that the borer lives on the pollen of 

 the goldenrod, and when this does not run wild black locust 

 can be grown. Before starting a plantation of this species 

 the owner should determine whether or not the locust borer 

 is injurious to locust trees in his vicinity. The pods of locust 

 can be collected from the tree when dry, and hung in bags 

 over winter in the barn. Before planting the seed should be 



