COMMON LOCUST-TREE. 197 



10. R. P. PENDULA, De Caiidolle. The Pendulous Rohinia. The shoots of this 

 variety are somewhat drooping, but not decidedly so. 



11. R. p. soPHOR^FOLiA, Loddigcs. This variety has leaves somewhat hke 

 those of the Sophora japonica. 



12. R. p. AMORPH^FOLiA, Link. This variety has leaves resembling those of 

 the Amorpha fruticosa. 



Geography and History. The common locust naturally abounds in the coun- 

 try west of the Alleghanies, as far as Arkansas. It is also plentiful in the Can- 

 adas, but is not found indigenous in the United States east of the river Dela- 

 ware, nor does it grow spontaneously in the maritime parts of the middle and 

 southern states, within the distance of fifty to one hundred miles from the sea. 

 It is planted, however, for purposes of utility and ornament, from Maine to Geor- 

 gia. It was observed by Michaux, that "the locust forms a much smaller por- 

 tion of the American forests than the oaks and walnuts, and that it is nowhere 

 found occupying tracts, even of a few acres exclusively." Hence the tree, where 

 it is met with, is often spared by settlers, as being ornamental, and comparatively 

 rare, and old specimens, which formerly belonged to the aboriginal forests, are 

 frequently seen growing in the midst of cultivated fields. 



Of all American trees that have been cultivated in Europe, there is no one, 

 of which so much has been said and done, as the locust. It was among the first 

 plants that were carried to that country, and it has been more extensively propa- 

 gated than any other, both in Britain and in France, where it has been alter- 

 nately extolled and neglected; and even at the present day, though the beauty 

 of its foliage and flowers is universally admired, and the valuable properties of 

 its wood have enthusiastically been praised and acknowledged, it is not consid- 

 ered as holding a high rank as a timber-tree, or as being generally planted with 

 a view to profit. 



The seeds of this tree, it is stated by some, were first sent to Europe to Jean 

 Robin, gardener to Henry IV., of France, in 1601 ; but according to others, they 

 were sent to Vespasian Robin, (son to the preceding,) who was arborist to Louis 

 XIII., and was planted by him in the Jardin des Plantes, in 1635. In England, 

 it appears to have been first cultivated by Tradescant, the elder ; but whether 

 he obtained it from France, or direct from Virginia, is uncertain. Parkinson, in 

 his " Theatre of Plants," published in 1640, first mentions this tree, as having been 

 grown in England by Tradescant, "to an exceeding height," which renders it 

 possible that he received it from America before either of the Robins. Evelyn, 

 in the first edition of his "Sylva," published in 1664, says, "The French have 

 lately brought in the Virginia acacia, which exceedingly adorns their walks. The 

 tree is hardy against all the invasions of our sharpest seasons ; but our high 

 winds, which, by reason of its brittle nature, it does not so well resist ; and the 

 roots, (which insinuate and run like liquorice under ground,) are apt to emaciate 

 the soil, and, therefore, haply not so commendable in our gardens as they would 

 be agreeable for variety of walks and shade." Miller, in his "Dictionary," 

 published in 1731, speaks of the Robinia as being very common in gardens near 

 London, where there were, in his time, several large, old trees. He says that 

 they were very hardy, but would not endure exposure to high winds, which 

 break their branches, and render them unsightly. " Many people," he adds, 

 "have neglected to cultivate them on that account; but they will do well if 

 planted in wilderness among other trees, where they will be sheltered, and make 

 a beautiful variety." In another edition of the same work, published in 1752, 

 he remarks that, "These trees were formerly in great request in England, and 

 were frequently planted in avenues, and for shady walks ; but their branches 

 being generally broken or split down by the wind, in summer, when they are 



