212 WISCONSIN AGRICULTUEE. 



Downing considers this tree very important as an ornament 

 about our houses and yards, where it is well entitled to a place. 

 " In summer, its charming foliage and agreeable flowers render 

 it a highly beautiful lawn tree ; and in winter, it is certainly one 

 of the strangest trees in appearance in our whole native sylva. 

 Like the Ailantus, it is entirely destitute of small spray, but it 

 also adds to this the additional singularity of thick, blunt, ter- 

 minal branches, without any perceptible buds. Altogether, it 

 more resembles a dry, dead, and withered combination of sticks, 

 than a living and thrifty tree. This rare and very unique ex- 

 ception to the usual beautiful diversity of spray and ramification 

 is highly interesting in the neighborhood of other full-sprayed 

 species, where the curiosity which it excit^3S will add greatly to 

 its value as an interesting tree at that season of the year." — 

 (Landscape Gardening, p. 117.) 



The Coffee Tree flowers in June, and the pods are ripe for 

 gathering in October, The seeds are very hard, and should be 

 immersed for a few minutes in boiling water. Thus treated, 

 they vegetate freely. Our Wisconsin people would do well to 

 obtain a supply of these seeds, and cultivate this valuable tree. 



6. Olediischia iriacanthos, of Ldnnceus. — Honey Locust. 



According to the observations of the late much lamented Prof. 

 S. P. Lathrop, this tree grows as far north as the vicinity of Be- 

 loit, in the valley of Rock river. It may be known by its nu- 

 merous large thorns, its delicate doubly pinnate leaves and its 

 long brownish pods. In the valey of the Ohio it attains its great- 

 est perfection. Though not a very important tree for any useful 

 qualities, it is well worthy of cultivation on account of its beauty. 



Mr, Downing in his standard work on Landscape Gai'deniug, 

 speaks of it as "much finer in appearance than the common lo- 

 cust, {Eobinia pseudacacia) although the flowers are greenish and 

 inconspicuous, instead of possessing the beauty and fragrance of 

 the latter. There is, however, a peculiar elegance about its light 

 green and beautiful foliage, which wafts so gracetuUy in the sum- 

 mer breeze, and folds up on the slightest shower, that it stands 

 far above that tree in our estimation, for the embellishment of 



