REDBUD. JUDAS TREE. 57 



It occurs from Pennsylvania westward to eastern Nebraska, 

 Kansas, and Indian Territory, southward to northern Alabama, 

 Mississippi, and Texas, reaching its best development in southern 

 Indiana and Illinois. It has been naturalized east of the Alle- 

 ghany mountains, growing in moist fertile soil, or less commonly 

 on dry gravelly hills. 



The honey locust is scarcely known as a forest tree in North 

 Corolina. Specimens of it, however, are found commonly on farms 

 and along fences in the Piedmont plateau, arid sparingly in the 

 other sections. 



It bears some seed every year and a large amount every third 

 year. Seedlings, which are frequently found on dry ground under 

 old trees, grow very rapidly. Sprouts are common about young 

 specimens and appear quickly around the stumps of felled trees. 



The leaves consist of numerous small, oblong, remotely toothed 

 leaflets, and are sometimes doubly pinnate. The inconspicuous 

 greenish flowers are in small spikes, and the fruit is a dark brown 

 pod, often 10 to 18 inches in length. The minute winter-buds 

 occur three or four together. Very sharp and rigid three-forked 

 or simple spines, 3 to 4 inches long, and bright chestnut-brown in 

 color, are very plentiful on some individuals and nearly or quite 

 wanting in others. The honey locust has long superficial roots. 



The wood is hard, strong, coarse-grained, and very durable in 

 contact with the ground ; red or bright red brown in color; the 

 sap wood, of 10 to 12 layers of annual growth, thin and pale. It 

 is largely used for fencing, for the hubs of wheels, and somewhat 

 in construction. 



Cercis canadensis, Linnaeus. 

 (REDBUD. JUDAS TREE.) 



A small tree, with a short trunk, bright red-brown furrowed 

 bark, and smooth light brown or gray branches, reaching a height 

 of 50 feet and a diameter of 12 inches. 



It is found from New Jersey to Florida, Alabama and Missis- 

 sippi, Indian Territory, Louisiana and' Texas, growing on the bor- 



