Show The Black Locust v f if jt y z Hf ii WiIL 2 t 1 4 S r e eD D j ja a t I Ii i I By Paul M. M Dunn Professor of Forestry Utah Utah- State Agricultural College Colley Black locust Robinia acacia is a tree though native to the central and eastern United States that has proved to bs be a avery avery a avery very popular tree for planting inthe inthe in inthe the mountain Intermountain region Its particular particular particular par par- value is that it is a a rapid grower will grow on w well drained banks hillsides and eroded lands and has a high value for stakes posts and poles In Tn poor to good soils that are well-drained well this tree will make a growth of from two to six Gix feet each year where the elevation is not over feet There is danger danger danger dan dan- ger of fr freezing zing back at the higher high high- er altitudes The wood is extremely extreme extreme- ly hard heavy and durable lasting lasting last last- ing from 15 to 40 years when used in the ground This tree makes rather a tall slender growth g especially if crowd crowded ed in a planting The leaves are green in color and compound in arrangement Whitish flowers are abundant in the spring forming forming- numerous se seed d pods in the fall The locust is a prolific seeder weeder and has b been en n widely planted in Utah I as a shade and street tree The The branches blanches are thorny and the bark barkis is a deep grayish in color and rigid of its hardness its strength and durability the wood of the locust is widely used for farm mat material rial suc such as reaches double trees wagon tongues and f fines nce posts In several instances two fence posts have been cut from eight to ten year old trees I For best results this tree should be planted in a woodlot with an original spacing of about six by six fe feet feat t. t With proper cultivation and thinning this planting will be quite profitable It can however ba be planted in a four to six row windbreak with the Russian olive on the outside row and Siberian elm on the inside The locust borer is an insect that attacks this species causing considerable damage in th the middle middle middle mid mid- dle west and the east but has not been found in Utah Utah Utah-up up to this time This tree tre is quite subject to chlorate or yellowing due to a lack of iron in the soil excessive Watering watering watering wa wa- or both |