90 Horticultural Department. [Bulletin 120 



The posts are considered the most desirable that are grown. Posts 

 set thirteen years ago in the vineyards are practically sound posts to- 

 day. The only objection to the post is that, after drying, the wood be- 

 comes so hard that it is almost impossible to drive staples into it, and 

 when stapled green the wood is liable to check and loosen the staple. 

 This difficulty has been overcome satisfactorily by the use of smooth- 

 wire ties, kept in place by a shallow notch. 



The posts are very strong, and less liable than are most other posts 

 to catch fire from burning grass. 



The wood of the larger trees is valuable for purposes where strength 

 is required, such as tool handles, tongues or other parts of vehicles 

 or implements. 



The question as to the desirability of hedges will not be discussed 

 here, but general observations warrant the conclusion that the Osage 

 orange is the best hedge-plant for our climate, and the further con- 

 clusion that it is a poor plan to attempt to maintain a hedge and grow 

 posts with the same plants, as it nearly always results in a poor hedge, 

 and the posts could be more economically grown in a compact block 

 of ground. However, it is a common observation in many parts of 

 the state that even in such an extravagant planting as a neglected 

 hedgerow the wood and posts pay large rent for that land upon which 

 no crops can be grown on account of the hedge. 



When grown singly or in rows, for shade or ornamental trees, the 

 Osage orange requires severe and frequent pruning, in order to form 

 a symmetrical tree. With sufficient care fine trees may be grown, 

 and in localities not well adapted to tree growth it is well worth while 

 to plant and prune this tree. 



Plate 2 shows a well-grown tree of this species, probably between 

 thirty-five and forty years old, which measures : 



Height 40 ft. 6 in. 



Diameter at the ground 15 inches. 



at 5 feet " UJ " 



" at 10 feet 11 " 



" at 20 feet 5 " 



Some measurements obtained from a number of old trees cut on 

 the grounds adjoining the campus may be of interest. The soil was 

 upland of fair quality. The age was determined by counting the an- 

 nual rings. 



