458 GAKDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



Acacia. 



The number of different species of Acacia is almost unlimited. 

 A great many are natives of Australia, and objects of extreme 

 beauty both as regards their flowers and their foliage. These 

 Australian species are remarkable for being without true leaves, 

 and developing their footstalks into the form of leaves, called 

 then " phyllodia," which have the peculiarity of always directing 

 their edges to the earth and heavens. Some few of these may 

 be met with at Ootacamund, growing well there ; but not one 

 has been found capable of enduring the climate of Bengal. In 

 the Punjab, Dr. G. Henderson informs me, they thrive well, 

 that there are above a dozen kinds, and that large numbers of 

 seedlings have been raised by the Society there. The several 

 species that are natives of India have no pretensions to beauty, 

 being, for the most part, rough jungul plants, quite unfit for 

 admission into the garden. 



1. A. cornigera. A small shrub, not ornamental, but curious 

 and interesting for the remarkable large tumid hollow thorns, 

 resembling little horns, with which the stems are thickly 

 covered. 



2. A. modesta Phuldee. A small shrub, common in the 

 North- West, where it forms, when kept well cut, a neat and 

 pretty hedge. 



3. A. Catechu. A large tree, with small and very delicate 

 foliage of bipinnate leaves ; the leaflets arranged, like the teeth 

 of a small comb ; if cut closely in, well adapted for affording a 

 very pretty hedge. 



4. A. Farnesiana. SWEET-SCENTED BABOOL. A small, un- 

 sightly, thorny, jungul-tree ; but very acceptable when in 

 blossom in the Cold season, and covered with its profusion of 

 bright yellow tassel-like flowers of the size and form of a bullet, 

 which emit far around a strong, delightful, aromatic fragrance, 

 much resembling that of Wallflowers, and retain their scent 

 long after gathered and laid by. At Cannes, in the South of 

 France, the tree is submitted to a very careful system of cul- 

 tivation and training for the sake of its flowers, which are in 

 great request with perfumers. 



5. A. speciosa SIKISS-TREE. A timber-tree of moderate size, 

 not much seen in the vicinity of Calcutta, but a prominent 



