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Horse Apple Trees

Keep Wimberley Beautiful

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote part I of my horseapple tree column. When I reread the article, after it had already been sent in, I noticed a badly written sentence and the lack of a comma which caused the sentence to be written in a non-sensical way, so please let me correct it in case any of you readers noticed it. Here is a portion of what was written: “…large, green apples (not edible by humans about 5 inches thick grow.” Ha! I hope you get the humor of it. Obviously, the horseapples are five inches thick, not the humans.

Now, to get on with the column. The hard wood of the bois d’arc is extremely resistant to decay. Texas Trees, by Paul and Patty Cox, states that “In the past it was so renowned for its durability that in some areas of Central Texas, house loans were refused unless the wooden structure rested on Bodark piers.” (As a matter of fact, the old wooden house where I grew up in Marlin, Texas, rested on such piers. The house was over 100 years old when it was torn down.) Many a fence was constructed with Bodark posts and they are probably still standing, too. Wagon- wheel hubs were another use for them. Yellow or tan dye made from the roots of the tree was used for dyeing wool and leather was tanned by using the trunk bark. Before barbed wire was created, the trees were planted to make a living, impenetrable fence, hence another name for it, Hedge Apple. However, since sparks fly from the wood, it was never recommended for firewood. Its desirable qualities are that it is disease and insect resistant, fast growing, easy to transplant, and the fruit is said to repel roaches. Its course growth, big thorns, and the chore of cleaning up the fallen “apples” are undesirable characteristics, however, so don’t rush out to find one even though the nursery trade now sells fruitless and thornless varieties. Just read about them instead and look for the horseapples along old country fences.

Wimberley View

P.O. Box 49
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054