344 



FARMERS' REGISTER— NOTES OF A RUSTIC. 



In pursuing; tliis theme, in the present No. I 

 shall confine my remarks to a sin<2,le tree, which I 

 shall consider, as regai-fls both its useful and orna- 

 mental qualities. 



The locust; (robina pseudacasia) is not con- 

 fined to one district — but is found more abundantly 

 among- our mountains, and throughout the lime- 

 stone regions westward, till its growth is checked 

 by the bleak climate of the Rocky Mountains. 



Its appearance is an indication of a fertile, light, 

 sandy soil, which it prefers; tliough it will grow 

 on stitT, and even poor land, exhiliiting however, a 

 more deformed and dwarfish appearance and slower 

 growth. 



The height of the common or yellow locust in 

 the regions, cast of the IJiuc Ridge, may be esti- 

 mated at about 50 feet, when full grown ; but it is 

 often found in the rich plains and vallies of the 

 west, rising to the height of 80 to 100 feet. I have 

 seen in one^instance, two locust trees, separated but 

 a few yards, that seemed to have attained the height 

 of the tallest poplars, with trunks as straight as 

 those of the white pine, and about two ieet in di- 

 ameter. 



This tree, like most others, when tj-ansplanted 

 from the dense forest, to open ground, has a ten- 

 dency to spread its branches, and gains as much in 

 expanse, as it loses in altitude. Ilence, in its cul- 

 tivation, the closer the trees are set, the taller they 

 will grow, provided the soil be not overcharged; 

 and they will exhibit less obliquity, both as regards 

 the trunk and the branches. 



This tree, when solitary, is generally crooked 

 and irregular in its growth ; but its detbrmity is 

 fully counterbalanced by its beautiful while, and 

 highly fragrant flowers, which hanging in pendu- 

 lous racemes, among its light green petiolate leaves, 

 render it justly admired, as an ornamental tree. 



For this purpose, it has been more cultivated in 

 Europe antl in our Atlantic States, than for its use 

 as timber, although in the latter point of view, it 

 stands pre-eminent among our forest trees. It 

 possesses in a high degree, those most important 

 qualities of timber, strength and durability. 



Artificers in wood, necessarily become acquaint- 

 ed with the general qualities of the timber, which 

 they are accustomed to use — but there prevails, I 

 apprehend, on several points relating to this sub- 

 ject, much ignorance, or at least, many doubts and 

 conflicting opinions, which can be removed only 

 by the patient application of actual experiments. 

 For instance, the quality of timlier is said to de- 

 pend on the time in which it is ielled, — both as re- 

 gards the age of the tree, and the season of the 

 year — and yet, how great a variety of opinions 

 prevails upon this subject. Some prefer the 

 spring for cutting, when the sap is ascending, oth- 

 ers the autumn, when it is descending — others 

 with more reason, the summer or winter. 



Again, the moon which has such an influence 

 over the minds of some men, is supposed to have an 

 effect on the durability of timber. This opinion 

 is as old as the days of Pliny the naturalist, who 

 considered wood cut at the change, as less corrup- 

 tible, than that felled at other times. 



But the age of tlie tree is, perhaps, more to be 

 regarded, than the season of the year, in cutting 

 trees for timber. 



If too young, or too old, will it not be more sub- 

 ject to decay, than if cut in its prime.' But when 



is a tree in its prime.' Some species, as the oak, 

 continue to grow for several hundred years. An 

 officer, now no more, who was in the battle at 

 Point Pleasant, near the junction of the Great 

 Kanawha and Ohio rivers, informed me, that he 

 saw 80 men belonging to the army of Col. Lewis, 

 enter the hollow of a sycamore tree. It is proba- 

 ble, this tree liad continued to grow for many cen- 

 turies. But at what age should trees be felled to 

 render their wood more durable.' 



The oak, which is so much used in England, in 

 shit)-building and for other purposes, is generally 

 considered in its prime at about 80 years — perhaps, 

 at an earlier age, it may !)e equally durable. 



Now, if every farmer, who owns wood land, 

 would note the results of his own experience on 

 the above points, it would in time accumulate a 

 mass of facts, and would throw a light around 

 the operations of the shipwright, the carj)enter, 

 the caiiinet-maker, and every artificer of wood, 

 and would enable the providers of timber, to pro- 

 cure that of the greatest strength and durability. 



AVith the exception of the cedar, which possesses 

 an unctuous, bitter and highly aromatic quality, 

 which prevents the destructive effects of moisture, 

 and preserves it from the attacks of insects ; the lo- 

 cust is decidedly the most durable wood that our 

 forests produce. In point of strength, it far sur- 

 passes the former tree. 



It is said, that a piece of seasoned locust, an inch 

 in diameter, has strength sufficient to suspend 

 20,000 lbs. weight — which is nearly a third the 

 weight, that a bar of iron of the same dimensions 

 will sustain. 



Hence, this wood is much used where strength 

 and durability are required — as for ship tunnels, 

 mill-cogs, tree-nails, posts, &c. and being suscep- 

 tible of a fine polish, is applicable to many purpo- 

 ses, in the hands of the turner and other artificers 

 of wood. 



To the farmer and planter, the yellow locust is 

 inestimable, and it is to be regretted, that its cul- 

 tivation is so generally neglected, when its use is so 

 universally admitted. 



IIow much labor would be saved by constructing 

 fences of locust, instead of pine, oak or other still 

 less durable wood.' There is no question, but a 

 good locust fence, would last a hundred years — 

 while every farmer knows, that his ordinary fenc- 

 ing has to be repaired, if not renewed, perhaps, 

 every tenth year. 



It is stated by some historian, that cedar was 

 found in the temple of Apollo, in Attica, 2,000 

 years old. It is probable, that the yellow locust, 

 if cut at a proper age, and prepared as the English 

 oak is, for ship-building by two or three years sea- 

 soning, that it would hist nearly as long. At all 

 events, posterity would have to fix the date of its 

 decay. 



Although, as I have remarked above, there is a 

 diversity of opinions as to the best season for felling 

 trees — it appears to me, that the middle of sum- 

 mer and middle of winter, when the sap is either 

 in the leaves or in the roots, should be preferred, 

 for sap is the great cause of the decay of wood. 



But my remarks, when I commenced, were in- 

 tended to be strictly dendrographic — so I shall 

 leave the hints which I have dropped upon the sub- 

 ject of timber, and return to the more poetical, 

 "if not more useful subject of ornamental trees, 



