Derivations. The genus Robinia was named in honour of Jean Robin, a French botanist, once herbalist to Henry IV., of France. Eschynomene is a name given by Pliny to a plant, resembling the locust in its character, which contracted its leaves from the touch of the hand. It was derived from the Greek aischunomai, which signifies to be modest. Pseudacacia is derived from the Greek pseudos, false, and acacia, from the resemblance of trees of this genus to the Acacia vera, or true Egyp tian acacia. Generic Characters. Calyx short, and somewhat campanulate, 5-toothed or 5-cleft; the two upper segments shorter, approximated or cohering. Vexillum broad and large; keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous, deciduous. Style bearded along the inside (next the free stamen.) Legume many-seeded, compressed, nearly sessile, the seminiferous suture margined; valves flat and thin. Seeds flat. Leaves unequally pinnate; leaflets petiolulate, stipellate. Flowers showy, white, or rose-colour, in simple, usually pendant axillary racemes.-Torrey and Gray, Flora. HE trees of the genus Robinia are chiefly natives of North America, and are highly prized for their use and beauty. They are all readily propagated from seeds, by cuttings of the branches and roots, or by grafting; and they will grow in any kind of soil that is not too wet. They are generally rapid in their growth, and of a corresponding longevity. In common with most trees and plants of rapid growth, they have the property of extending the principal roots close under the surface where the soil is usually the richest. But the same cause that produces this luxuriance at first, ultimately occasions the tree to grow more slowly, unless the roots are allowed ample space on every side; since, as they seldom penetrate deep, they soon exhaust all of their proper pabulum from the soil within their reach. For this reason, also, such trees are objectionable in hedge-rows, or scattered in groups in arable lands, where their roots prove a serious impediment to the plough, and shoot up in suckers, which injure the crops. On the other hand, roots which penetrate the earth perpendicularly, as well as horizontally, belong to trees more slow and uniform in their growth, and attain a larger size in proportion to the extent of ground they occupy. It does not appear, however, that a rich soil is particularly injured by the Robinia; for, it is remarked that in Kentucky and western Tennessee, where the Robinia pseudacacia attains its largest size, and produces excellent timber, the land, when cleared, will yield from thirty to sixty bushels of maize to an acre, for several years in succession, without manure. And it has been asserted that moderately poor and worn-out lands in America may be restored to fertility by planting them with the locust, from the deposition of its leaves, bark, seeds, &c., which undergo rapid decomposition, and are thereby converted into vegetable mould. Red Locust, Green Locust, White Locust, OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Derivations. This species, when first introduced into Europe, was supposed to be the Egyptian acacia, (Acacia vera,) but was afterwards contradistinctively named False Acacia. It was named Locust-tree by the missionaries, who were among the early collectors of trees, and who fancied that it was the tree that supported St. John in the wilderness. The word Carouge, is the French name for carob bean, the locust-tree of Spain; which, being also indigenous to Syria, is probably the true locust, mentioned in the New Testament. The German name, Schotendorn, is compounded of schote, a pod or legume, and dorn, a thorn, having reference to the pods and spines which this species bears. Engravings. Michaux, North American Sylva, pl. 76; Audubon, Birds of America, pl. cix.; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, v., pl. 83; and the figures below. Specific Characters. Prickles stipular. Branches twiggy. Racemes of flowers loose and pendulous; and smooth, as are the legumes. Leaflets ovate. The flowers are white, and sweet-scented; the roots creeping, and their fibres sometimes bearing tubercules.-De Candolle, Prodromus. Description. HE Robinia pseudaca- foliage and flowers, ranks among the first trees bramble; but do not proceed from the wood, like the spines of the hawthorn, cockspur, and other thorns. The branches have a general tendency upwards when the tree is young, but as it grows old, they partake more of a horizontal direction; and like the trunk, become somewhat contorted. The foliage is light and agreeable to the eye, each leaf being composed of opposite leaflets, eight, ten, or twelve, and sometimes more in number, surmounted by an odd one. The leaflets are nearly sessile, oval. thin, with a texture so fine and a surface so smooth, that the dust which falls on them will scarcely adhere; which last circumstance renders this tree particularly eligible for planting along roadsides, in the neighbourhood of cities and towns, or in great thoroughfares. The flowers, which open in March, at St. Mary's, in Georgia, and two months later in Pennsylvania, sometimes appear at the former place late in autumn. They are disposed in pendulous bunches, from three to five inches long, perfectly white, and sometimes yellowish, and diffuse an agreeable odour. They are succeeded by narrow, flat pods, from two to three inches long, and about half of an inch wide; each of which contains five or six small, brown, or black seeds, that ripen in the middle and northern states in the month of October. Varieties. We are inclined to believe that there are but two forms of the Robinia indigenous to North America, that may be regarded as distinct, and that the several varieties or races commonly treated as species, are the result of soil, climate, or cross fecundation. For, the common locust varies much in its differcnt native localities, and also has long been cultivated from seeds in Europe, which has brought forth numerous varieties, the foliage of which is tolerably distinct when the plants are young. By carefully comparing the descriptions of various authors, we recognize the following varieties or races, which may be classed under this species: 1. R. P. INTERMEDIA, Soulange-Bodin. This kind is thought to be a hybrid between the Robinia pseudacacia and viscosa. The branches, petioles, &c., are furnished with but few glands, and are rarely clammy. The flowers are sweetscented, and of a pale rose-colour. The pods are sometimes thickly set with short prickles. 2. R. P. HISPIDa, Lin. obovate, and are nearly and legumes are hispid. rous. The Hispid Rose Acacia. The leaves of this race are twice the size of the Robinia pseudacacia. The branches The flowers are large, of a dark rose-colour, and inodo 3. R. P. ROSEA, Pursh. Rose Acacia. This variety differs from the R. p. hispida in not having the branches and petioles hispid, and in growing to an inconsiderable shrub. 4. R. P. GRANDIFLORA, Loudon. The Large-flowered Rose Acacia. The leaves. of this variety are large, and ovate-roundish. The branches and peduncles are glabrous, and without prickles. The flowers are large, of a rose-colour, and inodorous. 5. R. P. FLORE LUTEO, Dumont de Courset. Yellow-flowered Robinia. 6. R. P. INERMIS, De Candolle. wanting, or nearly obsolete. The Unarmed Robinia. Leaves flat. Prickles 7. R. P. CRISPA, De Candolle. The Crisp-leafleted Robinia. The prickles of this variety are wanting. The leaflets, for the most part, are undulately curled. 8. R. P. TORTUOSA, De Candolle. The Twisted-trunked Robinia. The branches of this variety are much crowded and twisted. Flowers small, and not abundant. 9. R. P. UMBRACULIFERA, De Candolle. The Parasol Acacia. The branches of this variety are much crowded, and smooth; its head orbicular; and, according to Dumont de Courset, its flowers are yellow. 10. R. P. PENDULA, De Candolle. The Pendulous Robinia. The shoots of this variety are somewhat drooping, but not decidedly so. 11. R. P. SOPHOREFOLIA, Loddiges. This variety has leaves somewhat like those of the Sophora japonica. 12. R. P. AMORPHÆFOLIA, Link. This variety has leaves resembling those of the Amorpha fruticosa. Geography and History. The common locust naturally abounds in the country west of the Alleghanies, as far as Arkansas. It is also plentiful in the Canadas, but is not found indigenous in the United States east of the river Delaware, nor does it grow spontaneously in the maritime parts of the middle and southern states, within the distance of fifty to one hundred miles from the sca. It is planted, however, for purposes of utility and ornament, from Maine to Georgia. It was observed by Michaux, that "the locust forms a much smaller portion of the American forests than the oaks and walnuts, and that it is nowhere found occupying tracts, even of a few acres exclusively." Hence the tree, where it is met with, is often spared by settlers, as being ornamental, and comparatively rare, and old specimens, which formerly belonged to the aboriginal forests, are frequently seen growing in the midst of cultivated fields. Of all American trees that have been cultivated in Europe, there is no one, of which so much has been said and done, as the locust. It was among the first plants that were carried to that country, and it has been more extensively propagated than any other, both in Britain and in France, where it has been alternately extolled and neglected; and even at the present day, though the beauty of its foliage and flowers is universally admired, and the valuable properties of its wood have enthusiastically been praised and acknowledged, it is not considered as holding a high rank as a timber-tree, or as being generally planted with a view to profit. The seeds of this tree, it is stated by some, were first sent to Europe to Jean Robin, gardener to Henry IV., of France, in 1601; but according to others, they were sent to Vespasian Robin, (son to the preceding,) who was arborist to Louis XIII., and was planted by him in the Jardin des Plantes, in 1635. In England, it appears to have been first cultivated by Tradescant, the elder; but whether he obtained it from France, or direct from Virginia, is uncertain. Parkinson, in his "Theatre of Plants," published in 1640, first mentions this tree, as having been grown in England by Tradescant, "to an exceeding height," which renders it possible that he received it from America before either of the Robins. Evelyn, in the first edition of his "Sylva," published in 1664, says, "The French have lately brought in the Virginia acacia, which exceedingly adorns their walks. The tree is hardy against all the invasions of our sharpest seasons; but our high winds, which, by reason of its brittle nature, it does not so well resist; and the roots, (which insinuate and run like liquorice under ground,) are apt to emaciate the soil, and, therefore, haply not so commendable in our gardens as they would be agreeable for variety of walks and shade." Miller, in his "Dictionary," published in 1731, speaks of the Robinia as being very common in gardens near London, where there were, in his time, several large, old trees. He says that they were very hardy, but would not endure exposure to high winds, which break their branches, and render them unsightly. "Many people," he adds, "have neglected to cultivate them on that account; but they will do well if planted in wilderness among other trees, where they will be sheltered, and make a beautiful variety." In another edition of the same work, published in 1752, he remarks that, "These trees were formerly in great request in England, and were frequently planted in avenues, and for shady walks; but their branches being generally broken or split down by the wind, in summer, when they are clothed with leaves, the trees are rendered improper for this purpose; and their leaves coming out late in the spring, and falling off early in the autumn, occasioned their being neglected for many years; but of late they have been much in request again, so that the nurseries have been cleared of these trees; though in a few years they will be as little enquired after as heretofore, when those which have been lately planted begin to have their ragged appearance.' In Dr. Hunter's edition of Evelyn's "Sylva," published in 1786, we have a history of the employment of the locust in ship-building, communicated by Mr. Joseph Harrison. This gentleman, who had resided some time in Virginia, states that in "about the year 1733, the first experiment was made respecting the application of the locust-tree to any purpose in ship-building, by an ingenious shipwright, sent over to America by some Liverpool merchants, to build two ships there. The shipwright thought that the oaks, elms, ashes, and many other timber-trees common to both countries, were much inferior to the same sorts in England; but frequently spoke of the locust-tree as being of extraordinary qualities, both in strength and duration. He had observed some very old timber in houses in New England, that had been built of the wood of this tree, when the country was first settled, perfectly firm and sound; and, after having completed his engagement for his employers, he began to build a small vessel for himself; when, being at a loss for a sufficient quantity of iron, and having observed the extraordinary strength and firmness of the locust-tree, he took it into his head that trenails, or tree-nails, that is, wooden pins, of that timber, might be substituted for iron bolts in many places where they would be least liable to wrench or twist, (as in fastening the floor timbers to the keel, and the knees to the ends of the beams, which two articles take up a large proportion of the iron used in a ship,) purposing, when he arrived in England, to bore out the locust trenails, and drive in iron bolts in their stead. The ship, being finished and loaded, sailed for Liverpool, and returned back to Virginia the next year; the builder himself being the captain of her, paid particular attention to see the effect of the locust trenails. After the strictest examination, he found that they effectually answered the purpose intended. It was, however, thought prudent to take several of them out, and to put in iron bolts in their room; and this operation afforded another proof of their extraordinary strength and firmness, as they required to be driven out with what is technically called, a set bolt, (an iron punch,) just as if they had been made of iron; whereas oak trenails are usually bored out with an auger." The use of the locust for trenails was neglected for some years, till it was revived at the instance of Mr. Harrison, by a ship-builder of eminence, at New York, where, as in other parts of the United States, as well as in Great Britain, it has been in general use ever since. About the latter end of the last century, public attention was powerfully directed to the locust, both in Europe and in America, and various papers in the "Transactions" of societies, and pamphlets began to be published on the subject. In 1786, a "Memoir on the Common Acacia" was published at Paris, in which it was recommended to plant this tree on the banks of rivers, in order to strengthen them by its running roots. The writer also recommends it for peasticks, hop-poles, vine-props, wedges, cogs to wheels, &c., and even as a substitute for saint-foin, as a forage crop, to be mown thrice a year, and either used green, or dried, as hay, and stacked, mixed with straw, for winter use. In the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 1791, there is a long account of a plan for growing locust-trees, and American oaks, for the use of the royal navy. The distance at which the writer proposes to plant these trees is sixteen and a half feet, so that he calculates an acre will produce one hundred and sixty trees, of about one and a half tons each. The locust, he says, will be fit for shipbuilding in twenty-five or thirty years, the live oak in forty years, and the white |