192 Dr. Wallace on 
mistaken for a Sumac, for the Rhus Vernix, and hence named tlie 
Vernis du Japon, or Japan Varnish Tree, under the idea that it was 
really the tree which produces that precious varnish so much 
employed in Japan and China. Linnaeus himself was of that 
opinion, but the real tree was afterwards introduced, and the 
Ailanthus was then called the False Varnish Tree. In 1771 it 
was introduced into the Jardin des Plantes; Desfontaines there 
studied the tree, and, recognizing a new species and genus, 
gave it the name of Ailanthus.* It was at first cultivated as 
an ornamental tree, for which purpose it is well fitted, being 
very hardy in our climate, standing severe winters well, and pro- 
ducing an abundant crop of leaves, especially if stooled. It will 
grow well on any soil, and is said to flourish even on sandy dunes. 
It has been planted for the purpose of Ailanthiculture on the Landes 
of France and the sandy dunes of Holland, where, according to M. 
Milly of the former place and M. C. D. Huet of Haarlem, it grows 
well.¢ In London squares and parks are to be seen many luxuriant 
trees showing their indifference to a smoky atmosphere. By the 
sea side it thrives admirably. In Colchester there are many trees 
of from thirty to fifty years old, several fifty feet high, and some 
higher. I have observed these to flower and seed in warm summers, 
but I have not yet succeeded in rearing trees from English seed. 
The genus Ailanthus belongs to the family Rutacee and to the 
tribe Xanthorylee, or yellow-woods; it contains three or four 
species: the Ailanthus glandulosa of Desfontaines is a large 
and beautiful tree, having a straight trunk and rounded head, 
reminding us somewhat of the walnut. Its roots run along near 
the surface of the soil and shoot up suckers a great distance off ; 
the stem is very straight, covered with a smooth greyish bark ; 
the pith is large in the stem and in the bough ; the leaves in this 
climate usually appear in the first week in May, but in 1865, 
* Desfontaines, Mémoire sur un nouveau Genre d’Arbre, Ailanthus 
glandulosa, Y Ailanthe glanduleux; Mém. Acad. Paris. 1786, p. 265, pl. viii. 
“I drber Coli de Rumphius, Hort. Amboin., que les Indiens appellent 
Ailanthe dans leur langue, est une espéce qui nous paroit appartenir au genre 
que nous venons de décrire; c’est pourquoi nous avons conserve cette dénomi- 
nation pour nom générique.’”’ L’Heritier, Stirp. nov., fascic. 6, p- 179, (1785), 
says ‘‘ dilanthi nomen clariss. Renatus L. Desfontaines, qui hoe genus ante- 
penultimo anno in Actis Parisinis stabilivit, ab altera ejusdem videlicet 
generis specie apud Amboinenses teste Rumphio Aylanto i.e. Arbor Celi 
nuncupata, mutuatus est.’”’ Desfontaines’ Mémoire, however, is printed 
amongst those for 1786 and does not appear to have been published before 
1788. 
t+ Revue de Sériciculture, 1863, p. 75; 1861, p. 191. 
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