APRIL 



223 



Locusts : 



The Common Locust {Robina Pseudacacia) and the 

 Honey Locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) are frequently 

 found, even in city streets. 



The "wood of the locust has considerable commercial 

 value. The heart of the tree is liable to the attacks 

 of insects so that it is very seldom that one sees a 

 tree without a dead or 

 dying limb, although the 

 leaves seem to be singu- 

 larly exempt from dis- 

 eases of all kinds. 



As the structure of 

 the fragrant, beautifid 

 flowers and of the fruit 

 plainly shows, the lo- 

 custs belong to the Legu- 

 minosae, or Pea family. 



The honey locust is so 

 called from the greenish 

 yellow sweet pulp which 

 fills the space in the pods 

 between the seeds. This 

 is much relished by chil- 

 dren, who, however, wait until the fruit drops, not ven- 

 turing to climb a tree so well protected with its numerous 

 clusters of triple thorns. 



The seeds are very hard, brown, and shiny. Children 

 call them " burning stones," rubbing them to make them 

 hot. 



The leaves are bipinnately compound, but it is not 

 unusual to find every transition back to the parent type 

 of a once pinnately compound leaf. 



Locust, leaf and flower clusters. 



