Osage orange is an interesting tree, we always called them hedge apples where I grew up in southern York County. I fired my first shot with a shotgun at a hedge apple when I was 8 years old. My Dad handed me his 12 ga. Parker double, rolled one down a hill and said "shoot the rabbit". Almost ripped my arm off but more importantly I managed to put a few #6 shot in the "rabbit".
They are more of a southern species, never seen may where I live now in central Pa. much above Snyder County. An old York County farmer told me that the Union Civil War soldiers brought seeds back from the South and planted them for living cattle fences.
My father-in-law swore by using hedge apples for spider deterrent. Each fall he would place some in the rafters of his basement, not sure that it worked but I never saw any spiders in his house either. Beautiful wood, I seen a muzzleloader long rifle stock carved out of osage orange. I wouldn't want to have to carry it around, very heavy, but it sure was pretty.
I checked a book I have on how to grow different tree species from seed. It says the seeds exhibit a slight dormancy that can be overcome by stratification for 30 days at 41 degrees F (fridge) or soaking in water for 48 hours. No need to freeze.
