1S73. ] 



ROBINIA HISPIDA, OB EOSE AOAOIA. 



245 



I am pleased to find in tlie new grape, Duke of Buccleuch, a vigorous grower. 

 The small vine I received in May has made a growth of 12 ft. or 13 ft. since I got 

 it, and is very strong ; this has not been usually the case with new vines bought 

 by me. It appears very nearly allied to the Golden Champion, but of better 

 constitution, though I must say the latter grape is improving every year with mo, 

 and will pay for skill in growing. Eoyal Ascot is a beautiful-berried grape, and 

 one of good flavour ; but the bunches have a dumpty appearance, and I mean to 

 graft it with Black Muscat next year, as it is a strong grower. Of the more 

 recent introductions I am not in a position to speak, but hope to do so hereafter, 

 as though I may be often disappointed in them, they afford one a great deal of 

 pleasure in testing their merits. — John Clark, Studleij Royal. 



ROBINIA HISPIDA, OE EOSE ACACIA. 



'HIS very pretty plant, commonly called Eose Acacia, is a deciduous shrub 

 of small stature ; the young branches and the leaf-stalks are thickly clothed 

 with bristly hairs, whence the name of hispida ; the leaves are pinnate, 

 with oblong or oval entire leaflets, and the flowers are of a pretty rosy- 

 pink colour. It is said to be a native of the pine woods of Carolina, in North 

 America, and the accompanying figure (l-6th nat. size), from Ilemslei/s Hand- 

 book of Hardy Trees., &c., gives a very good idea of its general appearance. 



The origin of this plant was not long since discussed at some length in the 

 Revue Horticole, by M. Carriere, who came to the conclusion that, dissimilar as is 

 its aspect, it was a variety of the common Eobinia or Locust-tree. No one, he 

 says, knows whence it comes. After rejecting the hypothesis that it was a 

 hybrid, or a variety of R. viscosa^ he proceeded to examine two other hypotheses — 

 whether it originated in a case of dimorphism of the common Eobinia, or whether 

 it was simply a form of that plant ; and as neither proposition could be proved, 

 he added, we must confine ourselves to analogies. 



