ACACIA. 57 



ACACIA. 



u Our rocks are rough, but smiling there 

 The Acacia weaves her yellow hair, 

 Lonely and sweet, nor loved the less 

 For flowering in a wilderness ; 

 Then come, my Arab maid will be 

 The loved and lone Acacia tree." 



The Acacia is a 'very numerous family of deciduous 

 plants, generally found in all parts of the globe; most of the 

 showy varieties are generally calculated for the green- 

 house, while some few are calculated to decorate th< shrub- 

 bery. The common Acacia, better known as the Locust, 

 is a native of this country, and one of the finest ornamental 

 shade trees ever produced ; although of a showy appear* 

 ance in groves or round dwellings, it is not calculated for the 

 confines of a city, as it is subject to the attacks of insects, 

 and then easily broken off by the wind, thus destroying 

 its primitive beauty and majestic form. For a grove or 

 shade in the country it is unsurpassed, and is not ravaged by 

 insects, as the birds feed on and destroy them. Then again 

 the wood is valuable to farmers for posts. Their roots do 

 not extend deep underground, consequently is apt to throw 

 up suckers in abundance, which must be either taken off 

 and planted, or destroyed when young. This tree is not so 

 early as most of our natives in putting forth in the spring ; 

 the leaves and flowers appear much about the same time, 

 and the fragrance of the flowers can be inhaled for some 

 distance, so strong and delightful is the odor. The Rosa 

 Acacia, Robina Hispida, is certainly a beautiful deciduous 



