THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



809 



of A', commtmis, a native of the East 

 Indies. 



ROBINIA (False ^tv^tvV?).— Beautiful 

 flowering trees for lawn or shrubbery. 

 The common Acacia or Locust Tree (A'. 

 psciidoacacia) is of quick growth, hardy, 

 and thrives almost anywhere. The ordi- 

 nary form, with its white Pea-shaped 

 blossom in full beauty about the end of 

 July, is the most familiar. Of the numer- 

 ous varieties the following are the best : 

 Decaisneatia, with delicate pink flowers ; 



11 '--(^^ 



Robinia pseudoacacia. 



semperjlorens, flowering throughout the 

 summer, and having white blossoms and 

 bright green foliage ; and Bessoniana^ the 

 thornless branches of which form a dense 

 globular head of deep green foliage, which 

 is retained until very late in autumn, hence 

 its great value as a town or a street tree ; 

 niiinoscefolia, with finely-divided leaves ; 

 fastigiata, of upright growth ; crispa, with 

 curled foliage ; monopJiyUa, with leaves 

 entire instead of pinnate ; imibracie/ifera, 

 with a spreading head ; macrophylla., with 

 large leaves ; sophorcrfoHa^ with leaves 

 like the Japanese Sophora ; and inermis, 

 with a small head of spineless branches. 



R. viscosa {Clauuny Locust) is smaller 

 than the ordinary False Acacia, but is 

 elegant in foliage and beautiful in flower. 

 The flowers resemble those of Decaisne's 

 variety of the common Acacia, being of 

 a pale pink colour, but the clusters are 

 shorter and denser. It is a beautiful lawn 

 tree, flowering while the tree is still small : 

 fully grown it is of picturesque habit, from 

 30 to 50 ft. high, thriving best in a deep 

 light soil in a sheltered spot. 



R. hispida {Rose Acacia) is one of 

 the finest of small trees, requiring httle 

 room and not fastidious as to soil. It 

 is naturally straggling in growth, 5 to 

 1 5 ft. high ; its foliage is much larger 

 than that of the other Robinias ; the 

 clear rose-pink flowers are also larger. 1 

 A well-flowered specimen is a pretty ' 



sight. It flowers in June, but often 

 continues at intervals till autumn. It 

 may be known when not in leaf by the 

 dense rusty hairs covering the young 

 twigs. Its branches are brittle and apt 

 to get broken by high winds, especially if 

 it has been grafted high ; therefore choose 

 a spot sheltered from high winds. If the 

 branches become heavy, especially in 

 flower-time, support them by stakes. It 

 may be grown as an espalier, like a fruit 

 tree, and this will protect it from winds, 

 or it may be trained against a wall. There 

 are several so-called varieties, but none is 

 more beautiful than the type. The 

 \'ariety niacrophylla (large-leaved) is of 

 stronger growth, and has finer foliage and 

 flowers. N. America. 



R. neo-mexicana (IVes/em Locust 

 Tree). — A spreading shrub or low tree 



of 



feet. 



It 

 plant of fine habit, the 

 the under-side of the leaves, the flower- 

 stalks, and the seed-pods covered with 



IS a vigorous 

 young shoots. 



the branches bear 



node. Its bluish- 



reen leaves are rather long and grace- 



short brown bristles ; 

 two spines at each 



