34 



The whole annual shoot of the acacia 

 seldom ripens; hence the followiof^ year's fiijrowth 

 generall}' springs from a side bud, and this 

 makes the hranchlets take a stragglin" order. 

 The bark is smooth in early life, but becomes 

 deeply furrowed as the tree grows older. The 

 branches are of a brittle nature. Rightly de- 

 scribed, perhaps, as "the least able of all trees 

 " to endure the blast," it requires protection, and 

 not ha\-ing much power of occupancy, it should 

 have plenty of room to give full justice to its 

 growth. Its disposition is to grow ereiSt, with a 

 light spreading top. Propagation is by means of 

 seed, cuttings, or from the numerous suckers. 



The wood is not used in this country but is 

 said to be hard and durable. 



The constitution of the acacia commends it 

 as a desirable tree for cultivation in sheltered 

 situations. Notwithstanding the late appearance 

 and early fall of its leaves, the airy spreading 

 top, the lightness of its foliage, the prominent 

 white blossoms, and the light brown rugged 

 bark, combine to give it a very picturesque 

 appearance. 



