624 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
will not retain their vegetative properties for more than 2 years; but, if they 
are kept in the pod, and buried to a great depth in dry soil, they will remain 
good for 5 or 6 years, or perhaps longer. As seed-bearing trees seldom produce 
two abundant crops in succession, a reserve should be kept from one year 
toanother. It is allowed, both in France and Britain, that the best seeds are 
those which are obtained from America. According to Miller, editor of the 
Journal des Foréts, M. Roland, sen., a distinguished French agriculturist, finds 
that American seed germinates best when sown late in the year. (Withers’s 
Treatise, p. 280.) Cobbett recommends steeping the seeds before they are 
sown, by pouring boiling water on them, and stirring them about in it for an 
hour or more, till they swell. Probably, it may be worth while to steep the 
seeds, in some cases, in cold or tepid water, especially if the season should be 
far advanced; but pouring water upon them in a boiling state ought to be 
done with great caution; and boiling them, as Cobbett says (§ 383.) Judge 
Mitchell, in Long Island, advised him to do, is what no rational man would ever 
attempt, as even a, short continuation in water, at the temperature of 212°, 
must, of course, destroy the vital principle. An experiment, by the author of 
the Domestic Gardener’s Manual, is related in Withers’s Treatise (p. 308.), by 
the results of which it appears, that “ immersion in hot water accelerates 
germination, but tends to destroy or injure the seeds.” In a future page (see 
App. Il. to Leguminacez) it will be seen, that steeping Australia and Cape 
acacia seeds for 24 hours, in water which had been poured on them in a boil- 
ing state, or nearly so, accelerated their germination nearly 2 years. 
The seeds should be sown in good free soil, rich rather than otherwise, 
an inch or two apart every way, and covered with light soil from a quarter to 
half an inch deep. In fine seasons, the plants will be from 2ft. to 4ft. high 
by the following autumn; the largest may then be removed to where they 
are finally to remain, and the others transplanted into nursery lines. In 
regard to the future removal of the locust, it may be observed, that it will 
transplant at almost any age, and with fewer roots than almost any other 
tree. 
Accidents and Diseases. The liability of the branches to be broken off by 
high winds has been already mentioned ; and also the American insect which 
perforates the wood of planted trees in that country. (See p. 618.) In 
Britain, the tree is not particularly liable to be attacked by any insect, or 
by any disease, either in its foliage or in its wood ; though snails are said to 
devour the bark when the tree is young. Hares and rabbits, according to 
Mr. Blackie and others, in Mr. Withers’s Treatise, also devour the bark 
of the locust, which they prefer to that of any other tree whatever; and cattle, 
it is well known, are exceedingly fond of browsing on its leaves. In a strong 
clay or moist soil, the wood of old trees is often found rotten at the heart. 
Statistics. Robinia Pseid-Acacia in the Neighbourhood of London. At Syon, 81 ft. high, di- 
ameterjof the trunk, at 1ft. from the ground, 3 ft. 4 in., and of the head 57 ft., in loam on gravel. 
At Ham House, 50 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 3ft. Gin., and of the head 36ft. in light 
loam on gravel. At York House, Twickenham, 50 years planted, 60 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 
2a%ft., and that of the head 40 ft., insandy loam on clay. At-Kenwood, 80 years planted, 45 ft. high, 
diameter of the trunk 3 ft. Gin., and of the head 38 ft., in sandy gravel, on clay and gravel. At 
Charlton House, a number of trees, from 60 ft. to 70 ft. high, with trunks from 2ft. 10in, to 3 ft. Gin. 
in‘diameter. 
Robinia Pseid-Acicia South of London. In Devonshire, at Kenton, 38 years planted, and 70 ft. 
high. In Hampshire, at Southampton, 50 years planted, and 70 ft. high; at Testwood, 12 years 
planted, and 28 ft. high. In Somersetshire, at Nethercombe, 11 years planted, and 36 ft. high, the 
diameter of the trunk 10in., and of the head 18ft. In Surrey, at Bagshot Park, 16 years 
planted, and 30 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 12in., and of the head 18 ft. ; at Claremont, 
70ft. high, diameter of the trunk 4ft., and of the head 50ft., in sandy loam, on sand and 
gravel ; at Ockham Court, a tree, 80 years old, has a trunk 2 ft. 8 in. in diameter, at a foot from the 
ground. In Sussex, at Goodwood, there are numerous trees, from 50 ft. to 60ft. high, with trunks 
from 18in. to2ft. in diameter; at Sandon Place, 90 years planted, and 75 ft. high, the diameter 
of the trunk 3 ft. Gin., and of the head 51 ft. In Wiltshire, at Wardour Castle, 50 years planted, 
and 60 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2 ft. 5in., and of the head 54 ft., in loam, on clay, in a shel- 
tered situation; at Longford Castle, 50 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2ft. and of the head 30 ft., 
in light loam on gravel, in an exposed situation. In the Ise of Jersey, in Saunders’s Nursery, 10 years 
planted, and 30 ft. high. . 
Robinia Pseid-Acdcia North of London. In Bedfordshire, at Ampthill, 35 years planted, and 
36 ft. high, diam. of the trunk 23 ft., and of ,the head 44 ft., in loam on gravel, in an open situation. 
In Wiltshire, at Fonthill, 22 years planted, and 40 ft. high, diam. of the trunk 2ft., and of the 
head 33 ft. In Cheshire, at Cholmondeley, 60 ft. high, diameter of the trunk $ ft., in loam on 
