6? 



|>lanted ih one of the most exposed places in the city, in the stiff yellow soil) 

 where it grew nearly as rapidly ae the common locust. This last was. de- 

 stroyed by the grading of the street in 1866. It is also found in Grant coun- 

 ty near Lancaster, and in Green county along the Sugar and Pecatonica riv- 

 ers ; on the east side of Lake Winnebago, and at Grand Kaukanna. Some 

 trees were fonni} in the rich woods of Eichland county, nearly two feet in 

 diameter, which have been cut, and their bodies sawed up into various sorts 

 of timber at Eichland Centre. Some of this was used as axles for lumber 

 wagons, and preferred to sugar maple or hickory ; and some made into cabi- 

 net furniture, and received a high polish With a beautiful appearance. It also 

 grows on the Black river. 



The specimen on which we have most experimented, grew on the d*y, sandy 

 hillocks.of Prairie du Chien, and at the height of three feef from the ground 

 it measured four inches in diameter, and yet had been growing but nine years. 

 These instances sufficiently prove its rapid growth and adaptability to most 

 soils of the State, and lespeeiallyto the dry, sandy portions, and it only re' 

 mains to prove its durability as posts, to fully establish its reputation as more 

 than a substitute for the locust. 



As a cabinet wood it must be exceedingly valuable^ on account of its colory 

 fineness of grain, compactness, hardness and weight, since it sinks readily 

 in water, and takes a fine polish; and from its stiffness and hardness it will 

 be valuable where those qualities are required. While as fuel it must stand 

 unrivalled. 



The beans do not fall from the pod, as that does not commonly openi and 

 they require to be soaked 'in boiling water before planting to make them 

 germinftte. The nearly ripe pods would be as greedily devoured by horses, 

 mules and goats, as are the pods and beans of the mesguite of New Mexico> 

 which it more nearly resembles than any other tree. The tree has little or 

 no disposition to send up shoots like the locust. 



The following is extracted from a letter from J. Allen Barber, Esq., of Lan- 

 tiaster, Grant Co , dated June 30, 1867 : " "The honey locust growing at this 

 place all sprung from seeds gathered by me on the banks of the Mississipp', at 

 Prairie du Chien, in 1843, from pods washed on shore. The trees grow as 

 rapid as the common locust, is more beautiful in foliage, trunks and limbs ; 

 has a smooth compact bark, and is in all respects preferable to the common 

 locust — throws up no shoots or suckers^ and will grow wherever the common 

 locust will. * * The timber is more compact than that of the common lo- 

 cust. * * They are hardy, untroubled by disease or insects of any kind." 



The Hon. S. Mills, of Madison^ says he observed this locust in the neigh- 

 borhood of Eock Island, where it grew more than three feet in diameter, and 

 where it was cut into cord wood, splitting very freely, and other uses made 

 of it. He considers the wood as equal to hickory for fuel, and as exceedingly 

 durable. 



.Wm. M. Easdall, E q., of Madison, says that on his native piftntatioa aear 



