PSEUDO-ACACIA. 



ROBINIA. 



LEGUMIN08.E. UIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 



This tree is commonly called simply, the Acacia. French, 

 robinier, caragan ; Italian, caragana. 



THE foliage of the llobinia Pseudacacia, or Locust 

 tree, is of a singularly beautiful green, the blossoms pea- 

 shaped and white (except that which, from the colour of 

 the blossom, is styled the Rose Acacia), and droop like 

 the flowers of the Laburnum. They are very elegant, 

 but of so short duration, that they are scarcely in beauty 

 so long as a week. They blow in June, are very nu- 

 merous, and sweet-scented. These are succeeded by an 

 oblong pod, which, in mild seasons, will ripen in this 

 country, but not till late in the autumn. 



In a favourable soil, this tree has been known to shoot 

 six feet in one year; and, being well furnished with 

 leaves, it is very handsome while young ; but if it is ex- 

 posed to high winds, it is apt to be torn by them, and 

 then it makes rather an unsightly appearance as it ad- 

 vances in age. 



Evelyn says, that both these Acacias are apt to exhaust 

 the soil; and another circumstance which renders the 

 Robinia less desirable than otherwise it would be, is, 

 that they do not put out their leaves till late in the 

 spring, yet shed them early in the autumn. 



