Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 563 



;and genius properly requires, but we must not in this step go against 

 dxed rules and universal principles. 



Planting the Locust. 



Mr. N. Hallock, Queens Co., L. I. — The owner (George Doughty) 

 ■of the farm on which I now reside, many years ago became impressed 

 with the value of the timber of the locust, and with great energy set 

 about its culture for profit. He commenced in a small way by obtain- 

 ing a few trees and setting them in favorable places, usually where 

 wood had been cut off, where it was found they did the best ; and, as 

 they grew and threw up suckers, these were in turn set out. This 

 process being slow, he searched the country for seed, which were 

 planted in a nursery, carefully cared for, and, when large enough, 

 they were in turn set in the woods. 



The land mostly chosen to plant was the so-called worthless " Back- 

 Jione of Long Island," which then could be bought for from fifteen to 

 twenty-five dollars per acre, and was usually covered by a young growth 

 of the natural timber, which was all cut ofi", and locust trees planted ; 

 and, after four or five years, there would be a thicket of dogwood, oak, 

 jetc. At the end of that time, the ax again went over and cut off 

 everything. Tlie locust, whose roots are great runners, being now 

 firmly established, would send up an immense quantity of plants ; so 

 that, where originally set at twenty feet apart, they would now cover 

 the ground sufficiently thick to form a forest of themselves. But the 

 liardy dogwood was ready for an even start, and would strive for 

 the lead ; and it might have been a question which would get ahead, 

 but the ever-vigilant hand of the master, ready to protect its favorites, 

 would again be raised ; and this time the locust only would be spared ; 

 and again in five years would it be cleared ; after which, it would be 

 left to care for itself. 



Many a hard day's work can he tell of, that has come to naught. 

 One lot of thirty-five acres, upon which had been set over 10,000 

 trees, which were all killed by drouth the first summer ; but failure 

 «only strengthened his perseverance; and, the next spring, other 

 10,000 were set on the same ground ; and this time the effort was 

 crowned with success. 



Kow the net result of all this persistent effort is, that land which 

 was bought twenty years ago for twenty dollars per acre had wood 

 enough cut off to pay for the land ; and to-day has locust enough on 

 it to seU for $150 to $200 per acre, and leave the land in the best 



