certainly differs very materially from the broad-leav'd one, yet is most
probably only a seminal variety; the Laburnum figured in its wild state
by Professor JACQUIN, in his _Flora Austriaca_, has much broader leaves
than ours, no mention is made by him of its being subject to vary.

Both MILLER and HANBURY recommend the Laburnum to be cultivated not only
as an ornamental but as a timber tree, the wood having a very close
grain, a good colour, and bearing a high polish;[6] they urge in its
favour, that it is very hardy, a quick grower, and one that will thrive
in almost any soil; the latter says, it will become a timber tree of
more than a yard in girt: whatever success may attend its cultivation
for the more useful purposes, as a hardy, deciduous, ornamental tree, it
has long been the pride of our shrubberies and plantations.

It blossoms in May, and is usually very productive of seeds, by which it
may be propagated most readily.

Hares and rabbits being fond of its bark, do great damage to plantations
of Laburnum, especially in severe weather; I remember somewhere to have
read, that these animals will not touch a tree if soot has been placed
about it; perhaps, a circle drawn round the base of the tree with the
new coal tar, which has a powerful smell of long duration, might keep
off these noxious animals.

The Professor does not mention the precise height which he had observed
these trees to attain in North-America, but it is evident that they
acquire a considerable thickness, as the wood of the root as well as the
body of the tree is manufactured into various utensils by the natives,
and by the Indians into spoons in particular, whence it has obtained the
name of the _Spoon Tree_.

The leaves have been found to prove poisonous to kine, horses, and
sheep, but the deer are observed to brouse on them with impunity.

PETER COLLINSON, Esq. who was highly instrumental in enriching
this country with the native plants of North-America, is said to have
introduced this elegant species about the year 1734.

With us it succeeds best when planted with a northern aspect, well
sheltered, in a soil composed of loam and bog earth, in a situation
moderately moist, where the air is perfectly pure.

Being with difficulty propagated by suckers or layers, it is most
commonly raised from American seeds.

[177]

KALMIA GLAUCA. GLAUCOUS KALMIA.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

KALMIA _glauca_ foliis oppositis oblongi