58 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



7000 feet.) In the high mountains (of France), however, it 

 feels the cold. M. Seurre says the species is very accommo- 

 dating as to soil, free and somewhat fresh soil suiting it best. 

 While not liking extremely limy soils it will succeed in clayey 

 lime soils which are moist. 



M. Seurre seeks to ascertain what objections there are to this 

 tree. The only one of any seriousness that he can discover is 

 that it is invasive, but if it has such an intrinsic value this 

 should not amount to a drawback. Moreover, it can always 

 be cut back if necessary. The fact is that the robinia is almost 

 always to be found in gardens only, not in woods. However, 

 M, Seurre quotes one case of a robinia wood of 125 acres, 

 grown as high-forest, to the age of 50 years, of which the 

 outturn would amount to 10,600 cub. feet, worth ^^339 net, or 

 per acre per annum 2 1 1 "9 cub. feet in matter and between 

 ^6 and ;£'] in money. A large robinia tree will sell standing 

 at 40 francs the cubic metre (35 "3 cub. feet). 



Robinia coppice can be cut very early — at 8, 10 or 12 years 

 old — and will then give a money result equal to that of coppice 

 of the usual indigenous species aged 20 years. Coppice is still 

 of value in France. 



Broilliard is quoted as saying, "The robinia makes valuable 

 coppice which grows very quickly and gives much wood, 

 excellent for props, stakes, wheel-spokes, parquetry, furniture 

 and turning." 



The species should be planted, not sown, and after being once 

 transplanted in the nursery can go out at 2 years old. 



