258 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



Genus ROBINIA. 



Robinia pseudacacia. Locust. Yellow Locust. 

 Black Locust. Common Locust. False Acacia. 



Leaves alternate, pinnately compound, composed of from 

 9 to 17 leaflets. Flowers white, fragrant, in conspicuous 

 pendulous racemes 3 to 5 inches long appearing in latter part 

 of May or early in June. Pods flat, 4 to 5 inches long con- 

 taining about 6 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 down 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 occasionally reaching 

 the height of 60 or 70 feet and a diameter of 2 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, sometimes forming trees 50 feet or more in height 

 but generally it is much smaller and often forms mere thickets 

 which are occasionally 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 

 severely. This. causes part of them to swell. Sift or pick 

 these out and scald those remaining again. Continue this 

 scalding and sifting until all have swelled. The seed can 

 then be sown at once in well prepared soil and will in good 

 soil produce plants three or more feet high the first season. 

 They may also be grown from root cuttings and from sprouts. 



Properties of wood. Heavy, exceedingly hard and strong, 

 close grained and very durable in contact with the ground. 

 It is brown or light green with very thin, pale yellow sap- 

 wood. The specific gravity is 0.7333: weight of a cubic foot 

 45.7 pounds. 



