94 FOREST TREES. 
The Honey Locust affords excellent fuel, and the 
wood is extremely hard when seasoned, but its 
character as a valuable timber tree does not appear to 
be well established. Michaux speaks disparagingly 
of its qualities, while others assert that it is very 
durable. It only occurs occasionally in the forests 
of Northern Illinois, consequently its use has never 
attracted much attention. It is sometimes split into 
rails, and is employed for the hubs and felloes of 
wagon wheels. I have seen it used for posts, but too 
recently to afford evidence of its durability for that 
purpose. 
'l'his tree has of late been highly recommended as 
a hedge plant, and is to some extent propagated for 
that object. The ideais not new. It was extolled 
many years since, and more than forty years ago I 
saw it planted for hedges in Massachusetts, but for 
some reason the practice was not continued. I have 
never seen a Honey Locust hedge of long standing, 
and cannot give an opinion in regard to its merits. 
Most of the Honey Locust trees which I have 
met with in Northern Illinois were destitute of thorns. 
In some parts of the country they are nearly or 
quite all armed with them. This fact would seem to 
indicate the proper way of selecting seed for the 
different objects in planting. Seed for hedge plants 
should be gathered from thorny trees; that for orna- 
mental or timber trees from such as are unarmed. 
The seed of thornless trees will commonly, though 
not uniformly, produce thornless plants, and it is 
presumable that seeds from thorny trees will follow 
