Acacia. 45 



often afforded other semi-hardy plants, can be grown as 

 far north as Philadelphia and St. Louis. The leaves are 

 compound, twice and thrice pinnate, the small leaflets 

 being so finely divided as to present a fern-like or feathery 

 appearance. But in some of the species the true leaves are 

 seldom developed. To compensate for their absence, the 

 leaf-stalk, which at first is more or less cylindrical and of 

 small dimensions, becomes flattened and assumes a leaf- 

 like appearance. Thus these dilated leaf-stalks are made 

 to fulfil the functions of leaves, varying largely in the dif- 

 ferent species. Another curiosity in the structure of the 

 foliage of this class is that the leaves are so placed that 

 their edges look upward and downward, instead of lying 

 flat, as in most cases. One of the results of this peculiar 

 arrangement is that such trees and shrubs afford very little 

 shade, as the sun's rays are but slightly obstructed, so that 

 other plants of suitable size may grow freely beneath. Of 

 the specimens that may be planted safely in the United 

 States the following may be named as among the best : 



A. decurrens — Black Wattle. — This is a small tree of 

 good proportions, and highly prized wherever known. It 

 is, withal, of considerable commercial value in its native 

 country, and thousands of acres are said to have been 

 planted in New Zealand and Australia within a few years 

 for the tannin which the bark affords. The tree is ex- 

 ceedingly floriferous, producing long racemes of bright 

 yellow blossoms that contrast favorably with the pale green, 

 fern-like leaves. It was introduced into California some 

 years since, where it was received with much favor. Since 

 then it has been planted in some of the Southern States, 



