Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-26
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

The locust blossoms were drifting
! down like snow.
Who ever saw so many locust flowers
rs this Spring?
Surely they never smelled sweeter.
Last year the inconspicuouS but
fragrant blooms of the locust trees
were negligible. but this season 1t has
been quite different
Every tree has been loaded with bios
SONS, and these have diffused their
honeyiike oder over the neighborhcod,
until the bees came by their thousands
to enjoy the feast.
%% H*
There Is a fine tree whose branches
surround the corner of the house.
Sitting at the window, an observer is
right IN the tree, for all practical
purposes.
1t is interesting to watch the bees,
as they flash from raceme to raceme.
always on the search for honey ma
terial
Such buzzing as arose, not only
from this tree, but from others In
the yard! The bees we're enjoying them.
selves A human being could not help
thinking sthat II the nectar Of the
flowers tasted a. good ss it smelled,
the bees were to be congratulated on
their activities.
~ &%
The locust tree probably got its
name from locust. the insect, but as
far as we can discover there is no
record that this insect has any pe-
culiar connection with the tree appar-
emily named after 1t.
Some authorities claim the locust to
be an American tree; othels say its
pods are the husks referred to in the
Parable OF the Prodigal Son. So take
your choice. The common locust goes
by the high-sounding name of Robinia
pSeudacacia It Is the one with the
paptlionaeeous flowers. as one author
ity puts 1t. But evidently those who
write about this tree are not afraid
OF large words. One says It's seed pod
Is compressed, often curved, indehis-
cent and COURAGEOUS" Even Webster
defines 1t as AN American fabaceous
tree"
Here is something interesting about
the black locust Its wood is declared
to be the best for policemens "billies, :"
not only because it is heavy and tough
but more because Of its resonance. Civ
irg forth a ringing noise when tapped
on pavement. But surely this aspect
OF the policeman's club is not so i'm
portant today, with radio transmitting
apparatus sending out calls to officers in
automobiles.
The rapid growth of the locust has
made it favorite with many. but like
most faSt-growing trees 1t has its
poor points, so that today there is q
perceptible drop In its stock among
homeowners.
Yet the locust Is q good tree, after
all. and no one shall catch any of It's
friends snesring at IT, 1t is true 1t is
bit dirty. what with its flowers and
Its seeds. its pods. its long strings in
the Autumn, its fallen leaves and It's
tendency TO lose branches.
It's tall growth, with q straight shaft
OF trunk many feet high before the
leaves begin. is peculiarly pleasing to
many an eye. While perhaps every one
would admit the oak to be q far better
and much handsomer tree, the length
OF time 1t takes an oak TO become q
real tree Is. very much against 1t.
Few persons possess the vision, or
Whatever one chooses to call 1t. which
permits them to plant for future gen
erations. Those who want trees want
thsm now, or as close to now as it is
possible to secure them. This is whv
the Norway maple. the Normany pop-
lars and the the new Chinese elm en-
JOY large measure OF popularity
Good specimens OF the Chinese elm viii