evaporation. He refers to the success of blackwood acacia (A. 

 melanoxylon} as a street tree in California near gas works, about 

 copper smelters, in sewage, and in places subjected to overflow, 

 alkali, and sea salt conditions inimical to the growth of nearly 

 every other species of tree. The propagation of Australian acacias, 

 including many valuable timber species, began about 1850 in Cali- 

 fornia ; subsequently, they have been extensively planted. The beau- 

 tiful plantings at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, exemplify 

 effective evidence of sand-dune reclamation. 1 



The huisache, or sweet acacia (A. farnesiafna), native from 

 western Texas south to northern Chile, is widely cultivated at home 

 and abroad and, under the (unfortunately misleading) names cas- 

 sie and opopanax, is an aristocrat among commercial perfumery 

 plants. The "wattle" (Acacia spp.) is the national emblem of Aus- 

 tralia and appears on the coins and postage stamps of that island 

 continent. Many of the acacias, such as koa (A. koa) of Hawaii 

 and blackwood acacia, are famous cabinet woods. 



Probably no tree has entered into the symbolism of Oriental 

 peoples more than the acacia. The great durability of its wood, re- 

 sistance to decay, and ability to survive most adverse circumstances 

 have made it an emblem of eternal life and security since earliest 

 time. As such, it enters frequently into Old Testament typology; 

 for example, the altar and the ark of the covenant (containing the 

 tables with the Commandments) were made of acacia (Hebrew 

 shittah; plural, shittim) wood, probably A. seyal. Many authorities 

 believe that the word gopher of the Book of Genesis, of w T hich 

 Noah's ark was built, also refers to the acacia and has a similar 

 symbolism. 



1 See footnote on preceding page. 



