COMMON LOCUST-TREE. 197 
10. R. p. pendula, De Candolle. The Pendulous Robinia. The shoots of this 
variety are somewhat drooping, but not decidedly so. 
11. R. p. sophor^folia, Loddiges. This variety has leaves somewhat like 
those of the Sophora japonica. 
12. R. p. amorph^folia, Link. This variety has leaves resembling those of 
the Amorpha fruticosa. 
Geography arid History. The common locust naturally abounds in the coun- 
try west of the Alleghanies, as far as Arkansas. It is also plentiful in the Can- 
adas, but is not found indigenous in the United States east of the river Dela- 
ware, nor does it grow spontaneously in the maritime parts of the middle and 
southern states, within the distance of fifty to one hundred miles from the sea. 
It is planted, however, for purposes of utility and ornament, from Maine to Geor- 
gia. It was observed by Michaux, that " the locust forms a much smaller por- 
tion of the American forests than the oaks and walnuts, and that it is nowhere 
found occupying tracts, even of a few acres exclusively." Hence the tree, where 
it is met with, is often spared by settlers, as being ornamental, and comparatively 
rare, and old specimens, which formerly belonged to the aboriginal forests, are 
frequently seen growing in the midst of cultivated fields. 
Of all American trees that have been cultivated in Europe, there is no one, 
of which so much has been said and done, as the locust. It was among the first 
plants that were carried to that country, and it has been more extensively propa- 
gated than any other, both in Britain and in France, where it has been alter- 
nately extolled and neglected ; and even at the present day, though the beauty 
of its foliage and flowers is universally admired, and the valuable properties of 
its wood have enthusiastically been praised and acknowledged, it is not consid- 
ered as holding a high rank as a timber-tree, or as being generally planted with 
a view to profit. 
The seeds of this tree, it is stated by some, were first sent to Europe to Jean 
Robin, gardener to Henry IV., of France, in 1601 ; but according to others, they 
were sent to Vespasian Robin, (son to the preceding,) who was arborist to Louis 
XIII., and was planted by him in the Jardin des Plantes, in 1635. In England, 
it appears to have been first cultivated by Tradescant, the elder ; but whether 
he obtained it from France, or direct from Virginia, is uncertain. Parkinson, in 
his " Theatre of Plants," published in 1640, first mentions this tree, as having been 
grown in England by Tradescant, "to an exceeding height," which renders it 
possible that he received it from America before either of the Robins. Evelyn, 
in the first edition of his " Sylva," published in 1664, says, "The French have 
lately brought in the Virginia acacia, which exceedingly adorns their walks. The 
tree is hardy against all the invasions of our sharpest seasons ; but our high 
winds, which, by reason of its brittle nature, it does not so well resist ; and the 
roots, (which insinuate and run like liquorice under ground,) are apt to emaciate 
the soil, and, therefore, haply not so commendable in our gardens as they would 
be agreeable for variety of walks and shade." Miller, in his " Dictionary," 
published in 1731, speaks of the Robinia as being very common in gardens near 
London, where there were, in his time, several large, old trees. He says that 
they were very hardy, but would not endure exposure to high winds, which 
break their branches, and render them unsightly. "Many people," he adds, 
" have neglected to cultivate them on that account ; but they will do well if 
planted in wilderness among other trees, where they will be sheltered, and make 
a beautiful variety." In another edition of the same work, published in 1752, 
he remarks that, " These trees were formerly in great request in England, and 
were frequently planted in avenues, and for shady walks ; but their branches 
being generally broken or split down by the wind, in summer, when they are 
