OF ORNAMENTAL TREES. 69 



AILANTUS, Desfontaines. Nat. Ord. Xan- 

 thoxylaceae. Polygamia, Monoecia, Linn. Ca- 

 lyx 5 -cleft. Petals five. Stamens ten, un- 

 equal. Ovary mostly of five carpels, mem- 

 branous, 1 -celled, 1 -seeded. 



A. GLANDULOSA, Desfontaines. Leaves pin- 

 nate; leaflets toothed at the base, with a 

 gland at the base of each tooth. Ailanthus : 

 Tree of heaven. Native of China. Flowers 

 in June or July. 



Few trees have met with such a sad re- 

 verse of fortune as this. Its growth is very 

 rapid, and as rapidly it grew in popular esti- 

 mation on its first introduction. Latterly, 

 the tide has set against it, and caused many 

 to be torn up by the roots, and cast away. 

 The late Mr. Downing's last and best essay 

 was directed against it, and it will probably 

 never recover from that stroke of his power- 

 fully-directed pen. There are many who 

 will agree with his pleasing arguments, and 

 discard it on account of its bad propensity to 

 throw up suckers, an argument that can be 

 used against many other of our finest trees; 

 and for its abominable stench for the week 

 that it is in flower. These are its disadvan- 



