The Locust. 



** yet, the use of the Locust-tree in ship-building is confined to the article of 

 " tree-nails, on account of its scarcity ; for, was it near as plentiful as Oak, it 



would be applied to more purposes, such as knees, floor-timbers, foot-hooks, 

 ** &c., being much superior to it, both as to strength and duration ; and, 

 ** from its spreading into branches, atFords full as large a proportion of 



crooks, or compass -timber, as the Oak." 



345. Extract from the Gentleman's Magazine. 



The following Article appears in the Gentleman'' s Magazine far Aug, 1791," 

 Fol, 61. Part 2. page 699. It is signed Ehen. Jessup. He is descr ibed by 

 a Correspondent as an American gentleman^ and an undone Loyalist^ hav- 

 ing lost a large fortune in the American war, 



** It is proposed that an Act of Parliament be obtained, apportioning about 

 10,000 acres, or such a quantity of the lands in the New Forest and the 

 " Forest of Dean, as may be judged sufficient for the purposes of Government, 

 ** to be set apart for growing Locust-trees , Live Oak, and White Oak, for the 

 use of the Royal Navy of this country. The Locust is a wood of a remarkably 

 quick growth; so much so, that twenty-five or thirty years will produce a 

 large tree, fit for the uses commonly made of it. Its strength is equal to 

 *' that of the Oak, audit is of so durable a nature, that a stake driven into the 

 ** ground has been known to stand exposed to the weather for the space of 

 •* eighty or one hundred years, before it began to decay. This wood is found 

 " by the American shipwrights to be singularly useful in making the upper 

 works of large ships, and such particular parts of vessels as are likely to 

 *' decay soon. The Live Oak and White Oak are made use of for the same 

 ** purposes as the Locust-tree ; and although they are of a less durable nature 

 than the Locust, they are still more durable than the common Oak of this 

 country. The Locust is used for making of tree-nails or pins for ships; 

 ** and twelve or fifteen years will produce a tree large enough for that parti- 

 ** cular purpose. The Locust-tree grows well in this countiy; and my Lord 

 ** Amherst, to whom I had the honour of suggesting my plans upon this 

 subject, informed me that he has Locust-trees now growing in his gardens. 

 It is also beyond a doubt, that the Live Oak will grow well in this country. 

 The Locust-tree grows best in poor land, a dry, sandy, or gravelly soil, 

 ** and such as will produce scarcely anything else — of such quality (as 

 " well as of good land) there is a sufficient quantity already surveyed in 

 " the New Forest." 



