ACACIA. 43 



lish and enrich his native country, by planta- 

 tions, adds, " I would encourage all imaginable 

 industry in such as travel foreign countries, 

 and especially gentlemen who have concerns 

 in our American plantations, to promote the 

 culture of such plants and trees, especially 

 timber, as may yet add to those we find already 

 agreeable to our climate." 



These observations appear to have met 

 with little attention, as the tree seems to have 

 been rare in 1720, when Bradley notices it as 

 growing in the court before Russel House, 

 Bloomsbury, and in the Old Palace-yard, West- 

 minster. In both of these situations their roots 

 have given place to flag-stones, brick and mor- 

 tar ; their trunks to lamp-posts, and their 

 waving branches to clouds of coal smoke. 

 Mortimer says, " a great number of them were 

 formerly planted in St. James's Park, and that 

 in consequence of some of their branches being 

 broken by the wind, they were all cut down." 



This graceful tree is to be found in every 

 well-planted shrubbery, yet it meets the eye 

 less frequently than could be wished by the 

 admirers of beautiful scenery, while in France 

 it not only ornaments the gardens, and shades 

 the public promenades, but it's winged leaves 

 shine through their woods and forests, so as 



