The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-04-01
The Locust Grove.

The culture Of trees has always beer
interesting to ne. and | have already
had the p%lcasur, Of seeing unsightly
spots made beautiful and weary hill
sides made profitable by the trees
growing upon them. 1t seems un
necessary to add that these changes
will make a farm more attractive aud
valuable, and thus compensate IN a
most satisfactory for all the
labor bestowed. Among the most ynlu-
able trees To grow is the Robina
QocusD. This is useful on the farm
for fence posts and stakes, and will last in
the ground nearly II not quite As Tonga ~
rcd cedar. which stands nj the head Of all
wood for these purposes. have known
posts II the latter % stand forty years
without decaying. The locust oi the
yellow variety. which Is the kind va
should select rs the most valuable. will
grow rapidly and 10 n large size. In n
group Of these trees NOW IN vigorous
condition in the grounds Of Kirby
Homestead. there are two which have
4 circumference at the base Of ten feet.
and are fully 100 feet high. These
trees are seventy eight years old.
Locust trees are liable Ia be eaten by
borers, but this trouble Is not 50 COM
mon now rs formerly. In the groves
planted ON this farm no particular dam
age has been observed. The seed may
be- gathered aud planted In the fall. or
Il may be gathered in the winter, rs the
pods do not drop until winter or toward
spring. The trees are at this date
(Dcc. 26) still loaded with seeds.
When planted in the fall the freezing
and soaking in the ground has the effect
10 crrk the horny she'll which contains
the germ Of growth. ] like the plan
best OF planting in the spring "a the
ground can be put In better order for
the young trees 10 get ahead Of the
weeds. The seeds may be kept until
spring in n dry. cool place, and when
this is done just before planting they
should be put into n eollander or sieve.
and boiling water poured upon them to
soften the she'll Another way Il to
mix the seeds in sand and put them in
= box out Of doors. and In this form
ith the sand they may be planted.
When the ground can b. well pre-
pared they may be sown broadcast aud
narrowed in like grain. A thrifty grove
on Kirby Homestead was started In this
way and never had any care since.
Where the ground il rough and win not
admit Of being titled. spots may be pre-
pared with = spade and the seeds
planted By hand. covering them about
An inch deep lfthc ground Is too rocky
and hard 10 work up with a spade. little
seed-bcds can be made with a pick-as
and son can be carried In a basket 70
cover the seeds. Locust trees may be
started In a bed aud t~ransplanted when
one or two years old. as they are very
hardy aud bear transplanting. They
may then be sct in rows and by cnlli-
waiting between them occasionally DIR
Ing the summer for a few years they
viii grow more rapidly. II the grove
Is found 10 he too thick when the trees
become large enough for stakes. u
should be thinned out A locust grove
should not be set near land which Is 10
he TILED. ~ the roots extend for lrng
distances and send up sprouts which
would be In the way Of cultivation.
This fault under these circumstances
l. a great advantage when the trees are
planted in rough places. ~ u causes
them 10 multiply. When alocnst tree IL
down suckers spring up from the stump
and roots 10 take the place OF the old
tree, so that q locust grove once started
y perpetual. The timber is IN great de.
mand for ship-building ne well S for
posts. and always brings q high price.
In twenty years from the time Of plant.
ing. the trees will be large enough 10 b
utilized for these purposes. A peck 81
seed IL ample for an acre when scwed
broadcast. II the ground Is thoroughly
prepared 20 thai the seed may all coms
M. The same amount Of seed Il suf.
fcisnt when planted In drills. Tbs
drills should be four feet apart. and The
seed scattered IN them Thin enough q
b. evenly Distributed ssr the ground.
Alo~t large Sod dealers have locust Sod
la AZ. 'focnss seet yin rr'a'n II II
lAllty for several years. but fresh seed
h moro certain 20 Ecrminnle. -. d
Cur1is. = N 7. 1fsbsn<-