CHAP. XXX. XANTHOXYLaVe.I:. AILA'NTUS. 491 



trunk, seem to justify its original appellation of tree of heaven. On the 

 first approach of frost, the leaflets begin to drop, without having previously 

 shown any great change of colour, displaying in this respect a striking dif- 

 ference from the leaves of most species of i?hus, to which those of this 

 tree bear a general resemblance. 



GeograjjJii/, History, Sfc. This species o( Aihinfus is a native of the northern 

 provinces of China, more particularly in the neighbourhood of Pekin, Seeds 

 were sent to England, to the Royal Society of London, by the Jesuit mis- 

 sionary D'Incarville, in 1751 ; and they were sown by Miller in the Chelsea 

 Botanic Garden, and by Philip Carteret Webb, at Busbridge, in Surrey, in the 

 same year. As the tree produced suckers freely, it was soon generally pro- 

 pagated ; and there are many fine specimens of it in different parts of the 

 country. The original tree planted by Mr. Webb was cut down some years 

 ago ; but several others, which have sprung up from the roots left in the soil, 

 were in existence about the same spot when we visited it in 1834. (See 

 Gard. Mag., vol. ix. p. 481.) The tree was introduced into France, in 1780, 

 by Mr. Blaikie, and the oldest specimens are at St. Leu, and in the Jardin des 

 Plantes. We have not heard of the timber having been appUed to any useful 

 purpose in Europe, because trees of a large size are not yet sufficiently nu- 

 merous to admit of their being cut down for profitable application. In France 

 and Italy, it is much valued as a tree for shading public walks, and is planted 

 for that purpose along with tlie tulip tree, the horsechestnut, the platanus, 

 and other large-leaved exotic trees. Its leaves are not liable to be attacked 

 by insects, which is a very great recommendation, and they continue on the 

 tree, and retain their green colour, till the first frosts in November ; when the 

 leaflets drop suddenly ofif, the petioles remaining on often a week or two 

 longer. The tree grows in any soil, though one that is light and somewhat 

 humid, and a sheltered situation, suit it best. In France, it is said to thrive 

 on chalky soils, and attain a large size, where scarcely any other tree will 

 grow. It is readily propagated by cuttings of the roots. It might probably 

 be found a valuable tree to be treated as coppice, and cut down every third or 

 fourth year for fuel. 



Statistics. A. glandiildsa in the Environs of London. The largest tree is at Syon ; it is 70 ft. high, the 

 diameter of the trunk 3 It. 10 in., and of the head 40 ft. ; the trunli forms an erect column of about 

 30 ft. before it branches, and the head is hemispherical. This tree flowers and fruits occasionally. At 

 Kew there is a tree 60 ft. high ; in the Fulham Nursery, one 50 ft. high ; in the Mile End Nursery, 

 one .'36 ft. high, with a trunk '2 ft. in diameter; the leaves, even in the tree of that age and height, 

 measuring 4 ft 6 in. in length. At Fulham Palace there is a tree, iJO years planted, which is 2:'> ft. high , 

 In the London nurserie.s plants are frequently to be met with, of two or three years' growth, 12 ft. 



A glanduldsa South of London. In Kent, at Cobham Hall, 20 years planted, and 36 ft. high, the 

 diameter of the trunk 1 ft., and of the head 15 ft. In the Isle of Jersey, in Saunders's Nursery, 10 

 years planted, and 16 ft. high. In Sussex, at Langham Park, 9 years planted, and 12 ft. high ; at 

 kidbrooke, 30 years planted, and 30 ft. high. 



A pliindulhsa North of London. In Bedfordshire, at Ampthill Park, 3 years planted, and 12 ft. 

 high. In Berkshire, at White Knights, there are several trees, li) years planted, and from 27 ft. to 

 30 ft. high, the diameter of the trunks about 9 in , and of the heads about .30 ft.: these trees produce 

 flowers every year, and fruit occasionally In Buckinghamshire, at Temple House, 3 years planted, 

 and 7 ft high. In Cambridge, in the grounds of St. John's College, there are two trees, both near 

 the river Cam, one of which is 40 ft. high, with a trunk 2 ft. 7 in. in diameter. In Warwickshire, at 

 Combe Abbey, 10 years planted, and 12 ft. high ; in the Handsworth Nursery, near Birmingham, 12 

 years planted, and 16 ft. high. In Worcestershire, at Croome, 45 years planted, and 60 ft. high, the 

 diameter of the head 90 ft. , ,. , „ , . , j ^^ ,. , 



A elandulbsa in Scotland. In Berwickshire, at the Hirsel, 3 years planted, and 6 ft. high. In 

 Perthshire, at Kinfauns Castle, 8 years planted, and lo ft. high. In Stirlingshire, at Airthrie Castle, 

 10 years pl.inted, and 23 ft. high. In Sutherlandshire, at Dunrobin Castle, 43 ft. high, the diameter 

 of the trunk 1 ft. 6 in., and of the head 33ft. 



A glandulusa in Inland. At Dublin, in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, 20 years planted, and 

 18 ft. high ; at Terenure, 20 years planted, and 14 ft. high. In the Clonmel Nursery, 15 years planted, 

 and 14 ft. high. In the Kilkenny Nursery, 35 years planted, and 21 ft. high. 



A. glanduldsa in Foreign Countries. In France, at Paris, in the Jardin des Plantes, 68 ft. high, 

 with the head 44 ft. in diameter, flowering most years, and ripening seeds occasionally ; at St. 

 Leu, where it was planted on a large scale by Mr. Blaikie in 1794, it is 80 ft. high, with a trunk from 

 3 ft. 'to ,3i ft. in diameter; in the Botanic Garden at Tovilon, 50 years planted, and fiOft. high; at 

 Nerrif-res, near Nai.tes 40 voars planted, it is ,50 ft. Iiigh. At (ieneva, at the entrance to the Bo- 

 tanic Garden, there is a tree, from 45 ft. to .50 ft high, the trunk of which, in 1S33, measured 7 ft. 3 in. 

 in circumference at the surface of the ground ; when in flower, the disagreeable odour which pro. 

 ceeds from it is felt at a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile (cinq viinittes ife distance) ; and its 

 suckers occupy the ground for 40 ft. or 50 ft around it in every direction. In Saxony, at Worlitz, 

 a tree, 20 years planted, is 25 ft. high. In Austria, at Vienna, in the University Botanic Garden. 



