624 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



will not retain their vegetative properties for more than 2 years; but, if they 

 are kept in the pod, and buried to a great depth in dry soil, they will remain 

 good for 5 or 6 years, or perhaps longer. As seed-bearing trees seldom produce 

 two abundant crops in succession, a reserve should be kept from one year 

 to another. It is allowed, both in France and Britain, that the best seeds are 

 those which are obtained from America. According to Miller, editor of the 

 Journal des Fortts, M. Roland, sen., a distinguished French agriculturist, finds 

 that American seed germinates best when sown late in the year. ( Withers' s 

 Treatise, p. 280.) Cobbett recommends steeping the seeds before they are 

 sown, by pouring boiling water on them, and stirring them about in it for an 

 hour or more, till they swell. Probably, it may be worth while to steep the 

 seeds, in some cases, in cold or tepid water, especially if the season should be 

 far advanced ; but pouring water upon them in a boiling state ought to be 

 done with great caution ; and boiling them, as Cobbett says ( 383.) Judge 

 Mitchell, in Long Island, advised him to do, is what no rational man would ever 

 attempt, as even a short continuation in water, at the temperature of 212, 

 must, of course, destroy the vital principle. An experiment, by the author of 

 the Domestic Gardener's Manual, is related in Withers's Treatise (p. 308.), by 

 the results of which it appears, that " immersion in hot water accelerates 

 germination, but tends to destroy or injure the seeds." In a future page (see 

 App. II. to Leguminaceae) it will be seen, that steeping Australia and Cape 

 acacia seeds for 24 hours, in water which had been poured on them in a boil- 

 ing state, or nearly so, accelerated their germination nearly 2 years. 



The seeds should be sown in good free soil, rich rather than otherwise, 

 an inch or two apart every way, and covered with light soil from a quarter to 

 half an inch deep. In fine seasons, the plants will be from 2ft. to 4ft. high 

 by the following autumn ; the largest may then be removed to where they 

 are finally to remain, and the others transplanted into nursery lines. In 

 regard to the future removal of the locust, it may be observed, that it will 

 transplant at almost any age, and with fewer roots than almost any other 

 tree. 



Accidents and Diseases. The liability of the branches to be broken off by 

 high winds has been already mentioned ; and also the American insect which 

 perforates the wood of planted trees in that country. (See p. 618.) In 

 Britain, the tree is not particularly liable to be attacked by any insect, or 

 by any disease, either in its foliage or in its wood ; though snails are said to 

 devour the bark when the tree is young. Hares and rabbits, according to 

 Mr. Blackie and others, in Mr. Withers's Treatise, also devour the bark 

 of the locust, which they prefer to that of any other tree whatever; and cattle, 

 it is well known, are exceedingly fond "of browsing on its leaves. In a strong 

 clay or moist soil, the wood of old trees is often found rotten at the heart. 



Statistics. Roblnia PseM- Acdcm in the Neighbourhood of London. At Syon, 81ft. high, di- 

 ameter^ the trunk, at 1 ft. from the ground, 3 ft. 4 in., and of the head 57 ft., in loam on gravel. 

 At Ham House, 50ft. high, diameter of the trunk 3ft. 6 in., and of the head 36ft., in light 

 loam on gravel. At York House, Twickenham, 50 

 2ft, and that of the head 40 ft., in sandy loam on 

 diameter of the trunk 3ft. 6in., and of the head ; 



Charlton House, a number of trees, from 60 ft. to 70ft. high, with trunks from 2ft 10 in. to 3 ft. 6 in. 

 in diameter. 



Robinia. PseM- Acacia South of London. In Devonshire, at Kenton, 38 years planted, and 70 ft. 



tiigh 

 diamete'r of the trunk 10 in., and of the head 18ft In' Surrey, a't Bagshot Park, 16 years 



TUIIK. ,) n. oil!., aim or me iieau oon., in ugiii 



K) years planted, 60ft. high, diameter of the trunk 

 t clay. At Kenwood, 80 years planted, 45 ft. high, 

 38 ft., in sandy gravel, on clay and gravel. At 



Kobima. fseitO- Acacia South of London, in Devonshire, at Kenton, so years piantea, ana /u it. 

 high. In Hampshire, at Southampton, 50 years planted, and 70 ft. high ; at Testwood, 12 years 

 planted, and 28ft. high. In Somersetshire, at Nethercombe, 1 1 years planted, and 36ft. high, the 

 diameter of the trunk 10 in., and of the head 18ft In Surrey, at Bagshot Park, 16 years 



Planted, and 30 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 12 in., and of the head 18 ft. ; at Claremont. 

 Oft. high, diameter of the trunk 4ft, and of the head 50ft., in sandy loam, on sand and 

 gravel : at Ockham Court, a tree, 80 years old, has a trunk 2 ft. 8 in. in diameter, at a foot from the 

 ground. In Sussex, at Goodwood, there are numerous trees, from 50ft. to 60ft. high, with trunks 

 from 18 in. to 2 ft in diameter; at Sandon Place, 90 years planted, and 75ft. high, the diameter 

 of the trunk 3 ft. 6 in., and of the head 51 ft. In Wiltshire, at Wardour Castle, 50 years planted, 

 and 60 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2 ft. 5 in., and of the head 54 ft, in loam, on clay, in a shel- 

 tered situation; at Longford Castle, 50ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2ft. and of the 'head 30ft., 

 in light loam on gravel, in an exposed situation. In the Ise of Jersey, in Saunders's Nursery, 10 years 

 planted, and 30 ft. high. 



Robim* Pteitd-Ac&cia North qf London. In Bedfordshire, at Ampthill,' 35 years planted, and 

 36 ft. high, diam. of the trunk 2J ft., and of ,the head 44 ft., in loam on grave), in an open situation. 

 In Wiltshire, at Fonthill, 22 years planted, and 40ft. high, diam. of the trunk 2ft, and of the 

 head 33ft In Cheshire, at Cholmondeley, 60ft. high, diameter of the trunk 3 ft., in loam on 



