XLVIII 
THE LOCUST TREE. 
Locust TREE—Robinia or Pseud-Acacia (L.)—The common 
Robinia, or False Acacia, is a leguminous tree, and belongs 
to Diadelphia Decandria in the Linnean system. It is a 
native of North America, where, in rich, dry, well-sheltered 
soil, it grows rapidly, and becomes a tree of considerable 
height. According to Loudon, the first plant of the species 
that was brought to Europe was planted in the Jardin des 
Plantes, Paris, in 1635, and in 1835 it still existed, and 
stood seventy-eight feet high. In the climate of Britain the 
tree requires the earliest and best-sheltered situations, and in 
such its chief use is ornament. Like many trees of small 
stature, such as laburnum, elder, cherry, plum, and sallow, it 
produces shoots of great vigour during the first few years 
of its growth; but being far more tender than the kinds 
referred to, it is only in the best situations, and during the 
most favourable seasons, that its luxuriant growths become 
sufficiently matured to resist the influence of frost; and from 
a third to a half of the extremities of the branches of young 
trees are commonly cut off, which reduces the progress of the 
tree, in many situations, to that of very ordinary growth. 
Notwithstanding this circumstance, the plant, though ren- 
dered branchy, has a natural tendency to grow erect. In 
after life the tree assumes a more spreading habit, with 
growths less vigorous and better fitted to endure the winter, 
but it is seldom found to girth in proportion to its height. 
It is after the tree has attained the age of ten or twelve 
years that it appears in its most captivating form, and pro- 
