90 FARM FORESTRY 



it should be planted 4 by 8 feet. It is often underplanted with 

 a more tolerant species of tree. The honey locust is not so 

 generally injured by the locust borer as is the black locust. 

 It should prove a valuable tree to plant for fence posts in many 

 regions. 



Osage Orange (Toxylon pomiferon). — The natural range 

 of the osage orange is from the Arkansas River south through 

 southeastern Indian Territory to southern Texas. It has been 

 widely distributed by planting. It is sometimes called the mock 

 orange tree because of the shape and appearance of the fruit. 

 It is a very hardy tree. It adapts itself to a wide range of 

 soil and moisture conditions, and its ability to endure drought 

 makes it one of the best trees to plant in the Plains region. 

 It is hardy as far north as Massachusetts in the east and Iowa 

 and southern Illinois in the Central West. It does not form a 

 large tree. The usual rate of growth under good conditions 

 is one-quarter to one-third of an inch a year in diameter. 

 Height growth is slow after the first few years. It forms a 

 branchy tree and needs severe pruning to attain good form. 

 The heartwood is yellow in color, heavy, tough, hard and 

 strong. It is of value for cabinet purposes and for the manu- 

 facture of carriages, machinery and tool handles. The wood is 

 extremely durable in contact with the soil and the fuel value is 

 high. It has been planted extensively for hedges and wind- 

 breaks. The green "oranges" or fruit can be collected and the 

 seed separated by soaking in water until the pulp ferments. 

 The seed should be dried and stored in a cool, dry place over 

 winter. The seed germinates readily when planted. In start- 

 ing plantings the trees should be set closely together to over- 

 come the branchy nature of the tree. They are often planted 

 2 feet apart in rows 8 feet apart. It is often mixed with Cot- 

 tonwood, black walnut and hardy catalpa on rich, moist soils 

 and with black locust, honey locust, white elm or green ash 

 on dry upland soils. The tree is usually free from serious 

 attacks either by insects or fungus diseases. 



