and rarely succumbs to drought. This ability to withstand aridity 

 makes it one of the most desirable trees for planting throughout the 

 Middle West. 



It is tolerant of shade and consequently well adapted for planting 

 in mixture. The usual rate of growth under good conditions is one- 

 quarter to one-third of an inch in diameter yearly. Height growth 

 is relatively slow after the first few years, and no great height is ever 

 reached. It equals the Russian mulberry in rate of growth, but falls 

 somewhat behind the black locust. On good soil it will produce 

 fence posts in about fifteen years. 



Osage orange is usually free from any serious fungous attack. 

 A specimen with decayed heartwood is seldom found, though the 

 sapwood is sometimes riddled by borers. Their attack, however, 

 rarely kills the tree or seriously retards its growth. If injury by 

 insects is noted, however, specimens of the insects and their work 

 should be sent to the Bureau of Entomology of the Department of 

 Agriculture for identification and suggestions as to methods of con- 

 trol. 



ECONOMIC USES. 



The wood is yellow in color, heavy, tough, hard, and strong. It 

 is used in the manufacture of machinery, wagon felloes, insulator 

 pins, and tool handles. Where the tree attains sufficient size the 

 wood is used for railroad ties. 



The Osage orange is one of the most valuable trees for hedges 

 and in its planted range has been used for this purpose more exten- 

 sively than any other. Planting for fence-post material is also ad- 

 visable. Aside from its value for hedge and wood-lot planting the 

 Osage orange is one of the most desirable trees for windbreaks. Its 

 tendency to branch freely makes it very suitable for a low, dense 

 windbreak. 



METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 



Reproduction is abundant from seed, suckers, and stump sprouts. 

 When an Osage orange is once established, its complete removal is a 

 matter of much difficulty. Suckers from the roots will come up year 

 after year. Sprout growth furnishes the best means of reproducing 

 a plantation for posts or fuel. Since young shoots grow from the 

 stump with great vigor, the second crop is more likely to consist of 

 straight post timber than the first, unless the trees of the original 

 plantation were cut back one or two years after planting. This 

 ability to reproduce insures a continual renewal of the plantation 

 without further expense. 



The Osage orange may also be propagated from root cuttings, but 

 this is not a practical method. Propagation from seed is not diffi- 

 cult. The pistillate trees bear " oranges " in abundance. These 



[Cir. 90] 



