208 ROniMA PSEUDACACIA. 



which arc cut at tho at^c of four years, for viii<'-i)rops : and thosn jirops arc said 

 to last more than twenty years. In the same district, ohi tries are j)()llardcd, 

 and their hranches lopped every tliird year, for the same pnrposc. In Paris, 

 many small articles are made of the wood; such as salt-cellars, sugar-dishes, 

 spoons, forks, sand-boxes, paper-knives. \.c. 



In liomliardy, the wood of the locust is used for many rural purj)oscs. Young 

 plants of it wej-c formerly much employed for live fences; hut this practice has 

 long since been abandoned, because the tree was found to impoverish the soil; 

 and, witli asze, lost its prickles: besides, from being continually prniicd, to keep ii 

 low, or iVom being croi)j)ed by animals, the hedges became tinn and open at the 

 bottom, and eventually became mere stumps. Italy, as well as the southern 

 dej)artments of France, Michaux considers the countries in which the greatest 

 advantages may be derived from the rapid growth of this tree. In good soils, in 

 such climates, at the end of twenty or twenty-live years, he says, that a mass of 

 wood may be obtained from the locust, twice as great as from any other species 

 of tree. 



In countries where clovers and root crops are not cultivated, the leaves of the 

 locust may serve as a substitute for these articles as provender for animals. 

 When this species is cuUivated for this purpose, it should be mown every year; 

 or the trees may be allowed to grow to the height of eight or ten feet, and treated 

 as pollards, the branches being cut off every other year, which should be done 

 at mid-sununcr, when they are succulent, and can be dried for winter's use. In 

 performing this operation, one or two shoots should be left on each tree, to keep 

 up vegetation, which may be pruned off the following winter or spring. When 

 the shoots are to be eaten green, none should be taken but those of the same sea- 

 son ; because in them the prickles are herbaceous, and, consequently, do not 

 injure the mouths of the animals. 



The roots of the locust are very sweet, and afford an extract which might be 

 substituted for licorice. The flowers have been employed medicinally, as anti- 

 spasmodics, and have been distilled into an agreeable, refreshing syrup, which 

 is drunk with water to quench thirst. The flowers retain their fragrance when 

 dried : and those of a single tree are sufficient to perfume a whole garden. 



As an ornamental tree, the locust, with its light and elegant foliage, its sweetly 

 perfumed flowers, its beautiful pendent form, often "feathering to the ground." 

 will always be entitled to a place in our parks, lawns, and pleasure-grounds ; but, 

 as Gilpin says, " it beauty is frail, and it is of all trees the least able to endure the 

 blast. In some sheltered spot it may ornament a garden ; but it is by no means 

 qualified to adorn a country. Its wood is of so brittle a texture, especially when 

 it is encumbered with a weight of foliage, that you can never depend upon its aid 

 in filling up the part you wish. The branch you admire to-day may be demol- 

 ished to-morrow. The misfortune is, the acacia is not one of those grand objects, 

 like the oak, whose dignity is often increased by ruin. It depends on its beauty, 

 rather than on its grandeur, which is a quality more liable to injury. I may 

 add, however, in its favour, that, if it be easily injured, it repairs the injury 

 more quickly than any other tree." It has also " the further disadvantage of 

 coming late into leaf, and being among the very first to cast its foliage in autumn, 

 and this without undergoing any change of colour, or exhibiting those beautiful 

 and mellow tints which enrich the landscape at this season of the year." 



