The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-27
AgficqitQrai.
The Locust sor Timber.

The Locust Sor Timber.
A very interesting discussion was held
at the State House in Springfield, during
one of the evenings of the State Fair
on the Durability of Timber = but
which took the turn of free talk on the
value of the 'tBlsck, or Yellow Locust
The company of yeomen may be said
to have been divided into three parties
on the question under discussion. First,
there were those who event for the To-
Gust !" believing it to be one of the very
best varieties Of timber in existence, and
worthy of general cultivation by all
western farmers. Among the most en-
phatic of these was J. n. Brown, Esq,
President of the State Society, who de-
Tended the tree against opposers, and
carried the war into Africa, by variety
of claims of positive nature for the
timber; as unequsled for variety of
purposes. 1t was unriyaled in rspidity
of growth and durability, as he had re-
peatedly tested mentioning, as an in
stance, that seven years ago he had cut
off some limbs of the tree from FIVE to
seven inches in diameter, and inserted
them in the ground as support for
bee house, and which were yet as sound
as ever. His further claim for it was,
that grass of every species would grow
freely beneath it and that in its young
state, crops of all sorts might be grown
among the trees, as they could in the case
of no other timber. These views were
supported by several other gentlemen,
whose names we did not know, or have
forgotten. On the other hand, there
were those who were strongly inclined to
doubt its value, affirming that in several
instances it had rotted badly. Among
them was Bronson Murray, Esq, Cor
responding Secretary of the Society, who
stated that he had seen at jacksonville
sticks of it, say six or eight inches in di-
ameter, which being cut and split. and
being allowed to lie on the ground for a
few months, had become completely rot
ten, the different layers of the wood peel
ing from each other like the lamina OF
pasteboard, after it had been wet. A
gentleman of Springfield also stated that
he had cut posts of it in summer, peeled
them, had them sawed, and then season
ed for several months, and inserted the
top end down in the ground, which be-
ING there now about two years, were
found to be decayed to the depth of an
inch and half, and in six years from
setting would be utterly worthless.
Then there was another party who
wished for testimony, and were more OF
less undecided as to the value of the
wood. The writer of this asked the
question whether those present were ac-
customed to regard the black and yellow
locust as one and the same timber, or as
two different varieties; it being well
known that botanists know no difference,
but class all the trees of the sort indica-
ted, as Ro5inia PseudaeQcia. Some oi
the speakers thought there must be a
difference, on account of the different
qualities of the timber as tested in differ
ent cases. In three or four instances,
within the personal experience of the
narrators, the wood had decayed either
at once or within three or four years
and one speaker mentioned an instance
IN which tree being cut down, the
stump had rotsed in an incredibly short
space of time.
Onthe other hand, the great majority
of cases were those in which it had ex-
hibited a remarkable durability. Mr..
Murray spoke Of an instance mentioned
by Judge Buel, where the sleepers of a
house situated on Long Island, had been
found sound after period of two hun
dred years, while some pieces of red ce-
dar had given decided marks of decay.
Another mentioned the use of this wood,
as grown on that island, for wheel hubs
tits there of bright yellow color, near
" as heavy as iron, very hard to be
worked, and entirely free from any liabil
ity to check or crack. On the Susque.
hanna river, it is also used for pins, and
is driven into pine logs in the same man
ner as spikes, without any boring. Gen
tlemen testified to similar use of it il
Kentucky and Virginia, and one of then
remarked that In such uses it often cut
lasted iron bolts. Another gave an in
stance where, as gate posts, it has nov
stood forty years, and not only the posts
but the stump of the tree where the,
were cut, get remains sound. Thes
statements were sustained by q grea
amount of testimony. zSss..a
On the whole, we think the case ma,
stand thus: Locust timber. fully grow
aud ripened, on such soils as bring j
forward slowly, and of course make 0
it a sslid wead, win psose, to, be all thati
Claimed for the best specimens. Th
soil on Long Island is poor, thin, beach,
sand. The trees scarcely ly-ever grow lony
enough for more than one raiLcnt. If the,
do for that and at the end of twenty 0
thirty years are no larger haa they ar
here in from seven 10 twe!se years. I
Virginia and Pennsylyaaia their growt
= - akso oaJH aIt1 cotdA. N ActstaS ny ~tsfe
are timber native TO the country, aud q
course reference IS had, in the account
given, to old and well riipened wood.
When the timber grows up like sun
flower stalks. il viii naturally be porou
in proportion 70 its rapidiiy of growth
and in proportion as It departs froni.
natural er normal condition, It viii lac
durability We have in view the case {
the yellow, or pitch pine which, i
cases ef the hearts of old trees, viii Ia.
= forever but IN those Of younger, q
hons grown wood, IS not . darshie tn
ber It all. ~ izszs ;ssei -
=. Our advice to sfl men in this wester
coaRtrys especially 20 such IS dwell o
s our prairies. IS 10 sow OF plant this tre'
and 70 plant il fesrlessIy. Our sense I
Its value was greatly eHhanced by Il