117 



THE THORN ACACIA. 



What pretty tree is that/' said Amelia^ 

 which stands in front of Mrs. Heathfield's 

 house ? It has leaves very much like a labur- 

 num ; and the flowers are not unlike^ but 

 they are white instead of yellow." 



I remember it/' said Harry. " The bark 

 looks like great cords^ or ropes^ tied up and 

 down the tree. It is very easy to climb ; but 

 the small boughs have very sharp thorns." 



It is a tree which we have omitted to 

 notice/' I replied : " the Thorn Acacia. It is 

 a species of laburnum ; but grows to a much 

 larger size. The wood is highly ornamental^ 

 and exceedingly hard and tough ; but the tree 

 is too little grown or known^ to appear in the 



