At 05:23 PM 12/31/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Interesting! Because I spent a few years in Missouri (Missourah --
>according to those folks back there!) and a fair number of fence lines are
>planted with Osage orange or, as they call it -- hedge apple.

Osage Orange wood is highly figure wood--used for bows -- tool handles as
reported.

However. The practice of maintaining Osage hedge rows between fields fell
into disfavor with intensives farming practices. As the rooting zone of OO
extended into the field the zone of poor crop development widened. OO is
allelopathic its roots release toxic growth substances that kill other
plants. Neat way to capture all the soil fertility. Certain grasses also
have developed this combative technique keep from being shaded out by taller
vegetative. Fox squirrels fed on the fruit and help disperse OO in the
midwest. Small boys would have wars with fruits as well even grown boys.
It hurts to be hit with a full size green fruit. Black Locust makes good
fench post now. Bill