DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 145 



For posts it is more durable than the Red cedar, and is there- 

 fore in high estimation for fencing. In France, where the 

 tree was introduced by Jean Robin, herbalist to Henri IV.j 

 (whence the name Robmia,) it is much cultivated for poles 

 used in supporting the grapes in vineyards. It has the re- 

 markable property, says Michaux, of beginning from the third 

 year to convert its sap into perfect wood; which is not done 

 by the elm, oak, beech, or chestnut, until after the tenth or fif- 

 teenth year. Hence excellent and durable timber can be ob- 

 tained from this tree, in a shorter period than from any other.* 

 The locust can be cultivated to advantage as a timber tree 

 only upon deep, mellow, and rather rich, sandy soils ; there 

 its growth is wonderfully vigorous, and an immense number 

 can be grown upon a small area of ground. In clayey, heavy, 

 or strong loamy soils, the tree never attains much size, and is 



*Cobbet, who, en passant, though a most remarkable man, was as great a quack 

 in gardening as the famous pill-dealers now are in medicine, carried over from 

 this country when he returned to England, a great quantity of seeds of the lo- 

 cust, which he reared and sold in immense quantities. In his "Woodlands," 

 which appeared about that time, he praised its value and utility in the most ex- 

 aggerated terms, affirming " that no man in America will pretend to say he ever 

 saw a bit of it in a decayed state." And that " its wood is absolutely indestructible 

 hy the powers of earth, air, and water." "The time will come," he continues, "and 

 it will not be very distant, when the locust tree will be more common in Encfland 

 than the oak ; when a man would be thought mad if he used anything but lo- 

 cust in the construction of sills, posts, gates, joists, feet for rick stands, stocks and 

 axletrees for wheels, hop-poles, pales, or for anything where there is liability to 

 rot. This time will not be distant, seeing that the locust tree grows so fast. 

 The next race of children but one, that is to say, those who will be born 60 years 

 hence, will think the locust trees have always been the most numerous trees in 

 England ; and some curious writer of a century or two hence will tell his read- 

 ers, that wonderful as it may seem, ' the locust was hardly known in England 

 until about the year 1823, when the nation was introduced to a knowledge of it by 

 William Cobbett.' What he will say of me besides, I do not know ; but I 

 know he will say this of me. I enter this upon account, therefore, knowing 

 that I am writing for centuries to come." ! ! For a fuller account of his locust 

 frenzy, we refer our readers to the very complete article on Robinia, in that 

 truly splendid work, the" Arboretum Britannicum." 



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