THE A1LANTUS AND LOCUSTS. 211 



around New York have originated. In Washing- 

 ton Square and its vicinity during the "sixties" 

 there were innumerable trees, which eventually 

 became so offensive because of their odor and lia- 

 bility to be attacked by the abominable brown 

 " inch - worm " * that most of them were cut 

 down. 



But the tree in appearance is very graceful ; its 

 compound leaves have stems frequently measuring 

 three feet in length ; the base of the stem where it 

 joins the branch is swollen so that it resembles in 

 shape a miniature horse's hoof. The leaflet is sharp- 

 pointed, and has two or more singular dull teeth at 

 the base. The winged seed clusters, which somewhat 

 remind one of seaweed, are often beautifully pink- 

 tinged, but generally pale green. The tree is in- 

 clined to spread from seed, and in rubbish heaps 

 and the cracks and crannies of areas around old 

 city houses we may frequently see its youthful, 

 fuzzy, light-brown stem and a cluster of graceful 

 leaflets. The tree is distinguished in the absence 

 of its leafage by its coarse, bhtnt twigs; these do 

 not possess the delicacy which characterizes those of 

 most other trees. 



* I believe the advent into this country of the English sparrow 

 put an end to the " inch- worm " years ago. 



