178 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
other trees. The bark is of a pleasing brown smooth in 
surface ; the branches are studded over with curious, long, 
triply-pointed thorns, which also often jut out in clusters, in 
every direction from the trunk of the tree, to the length of 
four or five inches, giving it a most singular and forbidding 
look. In winter, these and the long seed-pods, five or six 
inches in length, which hang upon the boughs at that season, 
give the whole tree a very distinct character. These pods 
contain a sweetish substance, somewhat resembling honey ; 
whence the tree has in some places obtained the name of 
Honey locust, which properly belongs to Robinia viscosa. 
Another recommendation of this tree, is the variety of pic- 
turesque shapes which it assumes in growing up ; sometimes 
forming a tall pyramidal head of 50 or 60 feet, sometimes a 
low horizontally branched tree, and at others it expands into a 
wide irregular head, quite flattened at the summit. It does 
not produce suckers like the locust, and may therefore he in- 
troduced into any part of the grounds. When but a limited 
extent is devoted to a lawn or garden, this tree should be 
among the first to obtain a place ; as one or two Three- 
thorned Acacias, mingled with other larger and heavier foli- 
age, will at once produce a charming variety. 
The Three-thorned Acacia has been strongly recommended 
for hedges. It is too liable to become thin at the bottom, to 
serve well for an outer enclosure, but if kept well trimmed, 
it forms a capital farm fence and protection against the larger 
animals, growing up in much less time than the hawthorn. 
Like the locust, it has the disadvantage of expanding its fo- 
liage late in the spring. In the strong rich soils, which it 
prefers, it grows very vigorously, and is easily propagated 
from seeds. 
The Three-thorned Acacia, ( G . triacanthos ,) is the prin- 
