254 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



Iowa, many trees may be found without thorns and these are 

 especially desirable for wind breaks. Flowers in June, 

 polygamous, greenish and inconspicuous in small spike-like 

 axillary racemes. Fruit a flat, linear, dark-colored pod 

 often twelve inches long which becomes much twisted as the 

 seed ripens. This pod contains a pulp which is sweet at first 

 but after a few weeks ferments and becomes astringent. The 

 seed ripens in autumn and the pods fall off in late autumn or 

 early winter. The twisted form of the pods assists in the dis- 

 tribution of the seed as the pods do not open until sometime 

 after they fall and may be rolled for long distances by the 

 wind over the frozen ground or on the snow. 



Distribution. It inhabits rich woods and borders of 

 streams from western New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia 

 west to southern Ontario, eastern Nebraska and Louisiana. 



Propagation. The Honey Locust is easily grown from 

 seeds which should be gathered in late autumn, early winter 

 or as soon as the pods fall. The seeds must be scalded in 

 the same manner as recommended for the Common Locust or 

 they may remain in the soil a year before growing. 



Properties of wood. Heavy, hard, strong and very durable 

 in contact with the ground. It is coarse grained, of a red or 

 bright reddish brown color with thin pale sap wood. Specific 

 gravity 0.6740; weight of a cubic foot 42. pounds. 



Uses. The Honey Locust is a valuable tree for street and 

 ornamental planting for timber belts, wind breaks and for 

 hedges wherever it is hardy; it has a graceful form, is a, 

 rapid grower, easy to transplant, very free from insect and 

 fungous diseases and not given to sprouting from the root. 

 The wood is used for fence posts and rails, for the hubs of 

 wheels and to some extent for construction. It also makes 

 good fuel. This tree is not generally hardy in Minnesota 

 though it has stood very well in favorable locations in the 

 southeastern portion of the state and even at St. Paul has 

 done fairly well where protected but is likely to kill back in 

 severe winters, though the roots are very hardy and generally 

 renew the top the season following any winter injury. In 

 Iowa and Missouri it forms a large tree often three feet 

 through the trunk. The one-year-old seedlings are rather 



