282 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 7, 1881. 
be just suitable for bearing four lines on each ridge. In each 
alternate row every other plant is spoken of as being planted with 
Ash ; but as the growth of Ash would be slow and unsuited to 
heavy land we must find a substitute if it is intended to retain a 
plant of underwood for future profit ; we therefore consider that 
Sweet Chestnut would be well to take the place of Ash on strong 
soils, especially as it is easy to obtain the plants from the nursery¬ 
men. On the other hand, we have a strong idea that one or more 
sorts of wood well adapted for quick growth and valuable purposes 
may be made available instead of Ash or Chestnut trees. They 
would be more profitable, although it would be far more difficult 
to obtain plants unless they were raised direct from seed, as the 
trees we refer to are not kept in stock by nurserymen except 
for sale as ornamental objects, and in consequence could not 
be purchased in a wholesale way, or in quantity for extensive 
planting, except at a price which would be prohibitory for profit¬ 
able growth. We shall, however, in continuing the subject refer 
to this matter at some length before concluding our observations. 
After the Firs and underwood trees are set upon small ridges 
they will with deep furrows throw off the water quickly. Whether 
the land has been previously pipe-drained or not, cross open 
water carriers will be required to take the water away quickly, 
and these should be 30 inches wide at top, 18 inches wide at 
bottom, and 30 inches deep. This will be necessary under any 
circumstances, because pipe drains will not act long in woodland. 
We have previously stated that we should refer to sorts of trees 
capable of being grown to produce either timber or underwood 
upon such soils as may be too strong for the common Ash to 
flourish upon as they do upon light and poor soils. The first tree 
we will notice is not used to our knowledge in plantations gene¬ 
rally, either for growth as timber or underwood. We, however, 
very well remember when the Locust Tree of America was intro¬ 
duced to public notice by the celebrated William Cobbett, and 
was recommended by him in his “Weekly Register” in 1823. 
As he had a great many of these plants for sale at that time we 
shall notice some of his statements as to the value of the timber 
and wood, the purposes for which it is adapted, and the mode of 
raising and planting the trees. 
The Locust Tree of America is Robinia Pseud-acacia or Bastard 
Acacia, sometimes called Thorn Acacia, and it is found in most 
nurserymen’s catalogues under one of these names. Up to the 
present time we suppose it has only been grown as a shrub or 
tree for ornamental purposes. As, however, we have reason to 
rely upon the statements made by Mr. Cobbett and other writers 
in America who have recommended its being extensively planted 
in England, we shall make some quotations from the “ Register ” 
dated 1823. After stating that he had a hundred thousand Locust 
plants for sale at a price named he says, “They require a strong 
loamy soil; the land should be moved at least 18 inches in depth, 
keeping the best soil on the surface, and in planting for profitable 
growth the plants should be set at 4 feet apart each way.” He 
further says that his “ first sowing seeds of the Locust Tree was in 
1806. Some of the plants raised were set out in 1807, 1809, and 
1813, close by the village of Botley in Hampshire ; and those trees 
planted in April, 1807, after seventeen years’ growth were from 
38 to 42 feet in height, and were from 60 to 68 inches round at the 
base. Those planted in 1809 were in the same proportions of 
growth at fourteen years, whereas those trees planted in 1813 
and raised from seed sown in 1812 at eleven years’ growth varied 
from 37 to 40 feet in height, and from 32 to 38 inches round at the 
base.” When these trees were cut they were seen by a friend of 
ours, who last week told us that they cut up remarkably solid, 
being all spine, without any sap as is seen in our native Oak wood, 
and the wood of a light and bright brown colour, something like 
Box wood. The height and girth of these trees shows at once the 
extraordinary growth which they will make when properly planted 
and cared for, and it seems that at any age or size the wood is of 
the same enduring quality—a matter of immense importance in 
estimating the value of underwood ; and it is stated that Locust 
wood for hop poles would last for a long period without requiring 
fresh pointing ; in fact, Mr. Cobbett says the wood is very durable. 
Of the writers in America the first was Judge Mitchell from 
Long Island, who states that posts to a fence taken up after stand¬ 
ing twenty-eight years were as sound as ever in parts underground 
as well as above. Mr. Henry Lawrence certifies that a post which 
he knew for forty-four years was perfectly sound, both above and 
below the level ground, when removed, and that he remembers 
hearing his father say that it was an old post when he knew it, 
and it must have been there for upwards of eighty years. Mr. 
Daniel Smith certifies that a post placed 2 feet under ground by 
his ancestors in the year 1709 was examined in October, 1820, and 
found to be without the least decay ; this information was obtained 
by Dr. Peter Townsend of Smith’s Town, Long Island. We have 
abundance of evidence as to the durability of this timber, and also 
as to its rapidity of growth and its being suitable for every purpose 
to which wood is applied, including hop pole3, hurdle gates, pail 
fencing, boarding, and for all sorts of posts, doors, floors, and sills, 
&c., which may be required on the farm premises or elsewhere. 
We have nothing growing in this country as timber or underwood 
which can furnish such value as this for all and every purpose at 
any age of the wood—not even the heart or spine of the best Oak 
comes near it in endurance ; and as regards early maturity, we have 
nothing known yielding the same quality in so short a period. As 
we are quite unable to disprove the evidence here given we can¬ 
not do otherwise than to recommend the growth of the tree in 
preference to Ash or any other description of wood. It must, 
however, be raised from seed for the special purposes of planting, 
because it cannot be obtained from the nurserymen except at 
prices which would make the charges of planting objectionable in 
every respect. 
We will now take up the question of management after planting. 
We do not, however, insist upon the method of growing it in con¬ 
junction with Larch Fir, although no doubt it may be done with 
advantage. We should prefer to make a plantation entirely of 
Locust Trees, and when planted at 4 feet apart each way on a fallow 
and prepared surface as previously described, with proper horse 
and hand hoeing, they would make the most rapid progress. It is 
stated that after the trees have taken well they should be cut 
down close for producing underwood, as two stems may be left 
for the growth of poles to be cut early ; but for trees a single 
stem only should be left. It is, however, confidently stated by 
Mr. Cobbett, and we hope this will be tested, that a plant cut close 
in the second year will become of much larger dimensions and 
active growth at the end of any given number of years than that 
which had grown direct from seed without cutting or mutilation 
in any way. We have seen various other kinds of trees recom¬ 
mended for planting, such as the White Oak (Quercus alba) ; 
however, when we have compared them with the American 
Locust we decide immediately in favour of the latter. No doubt 
this underwood would be very valuable, because if we grow two 
hop poles to each tree fit for use and sale in seven years the 
number of plants per acre at 4 feet apart each way would be 2720, 
so that by taking two poles from each plant we should have for 
sale 5440 poles, worth, compared with Ash poles, at least 6s. each ; 
we have only to deduct about 6 per cent, for failures and crooked 
poles (the latter being fit for trunnells, used in ship-building), 
leaving not only a large return, but a quick one. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—The sowing of Barley, Oats and drege, and the plant¬ 
ing of Potatoes and Cabbages, have been continued lately without 
much hindrance ; at the same time we must not neglect to consider the 
importance of sowing the Lent corn with Clover and grass seeds, and 
the young Wheat also where it has been sown after Potatoes, Man¬ 
golds, or early Turnips : in the latter case we have always succeeded 
with broad Clover. The chief point to be observed is that the seeds 
shall be alternated, for w'hen the land is cultivated either under a 
four or five-course rotation, it is necessary to avoid sowing the same 
kinds of seeds as were grown in the previous course ; for instance, if 
broad Clover and Alsike with some Saintfoin mixed were grown before, 
white Clover and yellow Suckling should now be sown except when 
the land is intended for two or three years’ lea, the seeds then required 
being white Clover 5 tbs. per acre, Alsike 5 tbs., Timothy Grass G tbs., 
Cocksfoot G tbs., and Pacey’s Perennial Rye Grass 10 tbs. By either 
of these changes broad Clover will not occur oftener than once in ten 
or twmlve years. It is very necessary to recollect that broad Clover 
fails very frequently when the land has borne a similar crop in the 
former course, and it is a common observation amongst farmers that 
the land has become Clover-sick. This is an expressive term, but it 
by no means indicates the cause of failure, which has recently been 
