202 ROBINIA PSEUDACACIA. 
the height of sixty-five feet, in fifty years after planting, with a trunk twenty- 
five inches in diameter. 
In France, and in the south of Germany, M. Baudrillart informs us in the " Dic- 
tionnaire des Eaux et des Forets," published in 1825, that the locust was first 
received with enthusiasm as an ornamental tree ; but was afterwards rejected, 
on account of the late appearance of its leaves, its fragile branches, disagreeable 
spines, and above all, because it would not bear the shears. Until the introduc- 
tion of the modern style of gardening, it had almost become forgotten, when a 
reaction took place in its favour, and from the rapidity of its growth, and useful 
qualities, it was preferred to all other trees. Many authors, who have written 
on this tree, in France, have generally exaggerated its merits. Thus, M. Fran- 
cois was in favour of planting it in particular soils and situations , but others 
recommended it to be planted everywhere ; and, in consequence of its not suc- 
ceeding in unsuitable soils, a third class of writers were for discontinuing its cul- 
tivation altogether. As examples of want of success in cultivating this tree, 
there were several instances where large tracts of land were ploughed, and 
sown broad-cast with locust seeds, which came up, but the plants never attained 
any magnitude, owing to the lightness and sterility of the soil. M. Baudrillart 
refers to a case on the heaths of Gondreville, where the tree was extensively 
planted in a white sand, and proved a complete failure, except on the banks of 
ditches; although the Pinus maritima and sylvestris, and the birch had been 
cultivated there with tolerable success. He makes mention of another instance 
in the Bois de Boulogne, where locusts, that were planted at the same time with, 
and among masses of the birch, the yew, the chesnut, the perfumed cherry, and 
the common sallow, grew rapidly for five or six years, rising far above them at 
first, but gradually ' disappeared after a certain time, the other trees having 
become more vigorous, and finally choked them out. He further states that, 
" M. Mallet had no better success in the Forest of Mareuil, in the department of 
Vienne, where the soil is moist and aquatic ; nor in the Forest of Chatellerault, 
where it is dry and sandy." M. Baudrillart concludes, by repeating, after 
Michaux, that "it is only in a favourable climate, and in a good soil, that the 
tree attains a great size, even in its native country." 
In France, at Paris, in the Jardin des Plantes, the remains of the parent tree, 
planted in 1635, by M. Vespasian Robin, is said still to exist, and is nearly 
eighty feet in height. At Villers, there is another tree of this species, which 
attained the height of sixty feet in twenty years after planting. 
In Germany, at Schwobber, in Hanover, the remains of an old Robinia still 
exist, which has been planted nearly one hundred and thirty years. At Wor- 
litz, in Saxony, there is another which attained the height of sixty feet in sixty- 
four years after planting. 
In Denmark, at Dronengaard, near Copenhagen, there is a locust which 
attained the height of sixty feet in forty years after planting. 
In Russia, upon the foundations of the Palace of Yalomensk, in the neighbour- 
hood of Moscow, there is a hedge of acacia, according to Leitch Ritchie, planted 
in such a manner as to indicate the plan of the building. This palace was built 
by Peter the Great, and at a short distance from it is another tree, surrounded 
by a table and benches, under which young Peter received his lessons. At Mos- 
cow, the locust does not attain any considerable size: but, according toDescemet, 
it thrives in the Crimea in all its varieties. 
In Switzerland, there are several locust-trees, which have attained a height of 
fifty to seventy feet. 
In Italy, in the palace gardens at Monza. there is a noble tree of this species, 
which attained the height of seventy-five feet in twenty-nine years after plant- 
ing, with a trunk two feet in diameter, and an ambitus of forty feet. 
