LOCUST. 333 



dead appearance. It is one of the latest trees to leaf out, and 

 the new growth is strikingly pretty. The leaflets near the ends 

 of the leaves are bright pink, while those that opened first are 

 green or bronze colored. The young leaves in June are a rich 

 brown color. It is very hardy, and is not particular about the 

 soil in which it grows, but attains a large size only in rich, deep, 

 moist soils. The wood is occasionally used in cabinet making 

 and for fence posts, rails and in construction. As the name 

 implies the seed has sometimes been used as a substitute for 

 coffee. Its chief value is for ornament. 



Genus ROBINIA. 



Robinia pseudacacia. I^ocust. Yellow Locust. Black 

 Locust. Common Locust. False Acacia. 



Leaves alternate, pinnately compound, composed of from 

 nine to seventeen leaflets. Flowers white, fragrant, in con- 

 spicuous pendulous racemes three to five inches long appear- 

 ing in latter part of May or early in June. Pods flat, four to 

 five inches long, containing about six hard, small and rather flat 

 seeds, which ripen in late autumn and often hang on the tree 

 all winter. The light, handsome foliage of this tree constitutes 

 one of its principal charms; the leaves open during the day 

 and as night comes on close d % own as if for rest. The young 

 growth is usually furnished with strong recurved prickles, 

 though trees can frequently be found that are entirely free from 

 them, and it is this latter form that is used in some European 

 countries as fodder for cattle. A slender forest tree, occasion- 

 ally reaching the height of sixty or seventy feet and a diameter 

 of two feet. 



Distribution. Southern Pennsylvania to Indiana, Iowa and 

 southward. Under cultivation it has become widely distributed. 

 In Minnesota it is found along the Mississippi river as far north 

 as Minneapolis, and occasionally elsewhere in this state, some- 

 times forming trees fifty feet or more in height, but generally 

 it is much smaller, and often forms mere thickets which are oc- 

 casionally killed back in severe winters. 



Propagation. The Locust is grown from seeds, which may 

 be gathered in the pods, kept in any dry place, and planted in 

 the spring. Just before planting the seeds should be scalded 



