THE ACACIA. 301 



and fortunate did the applicant consider himself, who 

 could purchase at a high price from Mr. Cobbett the very 

 same Locust-trees that, under the name of Robinia Pseud- 

 Acacia, were standing unasked-for in the nurseries. We 

 are undoubtedly indebted to Mr. Cobbett for very many 

 of the Acacias that now adorn our parks and pleasure- 

 grounds ; but it is far from proved that the ground which 

 has been devoted to plantations of these trees might not 

 have been more profitably employed. London has shown 

 satisfactorily that Cobbett's recommendation of the wood 

 cannot, in many instances, be confirmed by fact, but allows 

 that " sound Acacia wood is heavier, harder, stronger, 

 tougher, more rigid, and more elastic than that of the 

 best English Oak ; and, consequently, that it is more 

 fit than Oak for trenails." He adds, moreover, that "it 

 is very suitable for posts and fencing, and also for the 

 axle-trees of timber-carriages ; but that there is no evi- 

 dence of its being applicable to the general purposes of 

 construction." 



Other parts of the tree are not without use : the roots 

 are very sweet, and afford an extract like that obtained 

 from liquorice-root ; and the foliage forms an excellent 

 substitute for clover as provender for cattle. 



There are many fine specimens of the Acacia growing 

 in England, varying in height from fifty to eighty feet, 

 and from six to ten feet in circumference; but none of 

 these demand particular notice. 



