DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 233 



both sexes of this tree should be growing near each other, 

 in order to produce seed. 



When Kentucky was first settled by the adventurous 

 pioneers from the Atlantic States, who commenced their 

 career in the primeval wilderness, almost without the 

 necessaries of life, except as produced by them from the 

 fertile soil, they fancied that they had discovered a 

 substitute for coffee in the seeds of this tree, and 

 accordingly the name of Coffee tree was bestowed upon 

 it : but when a communication was established with the 

 seaports, they gladly relinquished their Kentucky beverage 

 for the more grateful flavor of the Indian plant ; and no 

 use is at present made of it in that manner. It has, 

 however, a fine, compact wood, highly useful in building or 

 cabinet-work. 



The Kentucky Coffee tree is well entitled to a place in 

 every collection. In summer, its charming foliage and 

 agreeable flowers render it a highly beautiful lawn tree ; 

 and in winter, it is certainly one of the most novel 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, 

 terminal branches, without any perceptible buds. Alto- 

 gether it more resembles a dry, dead, and withered 

 combination of sticks, than a living and thrifty tree. 

 Although this would be highly monotonous and displeasing, 

 were it the common appearance of our deciduous trees 

 in winter ; yet, as it is not so, but a rare and very unique 

 exception to the usual beautiful diversity of spray and 

 ramification, it is highly interesting to place such a tree as 

 the present in the neighborhood of other full-sprayed 

 ipecies, where the curiosity which it excites will add 



