204 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



The largest Ailantus trees in America are growing 

 in Rhode Island, where it was introduced from China, 

 under the name of the Tillou tree. It has since been 

 rapidly propagated by suckers, and is now one of the 

 commonest ornamental trees sold in the nurseries. The 

 finest trees, however, are those raised from seed.* 



THE KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE. Gymnocladus. 



Nat. Ord. Leguminosae. Lin. Syst. Dicecia, Decandria. 



This unique tree is found in the western part of the 

 State of New York, and as far north as Montreal, in 

 Canada. But it is seen in the greatest perfection, in the 

 fertile bottoms of Kentucky and Tennessee. Sixty feet is 

 the usual height of the Coffee tree in those soils ; and 

 judging from specimens growing under our inspection, it 

 will scarcely fall short of that altitude, in well cultivated 

 situations, anywhere in the middle states. 



When in full foliage, this is a very beautiful tree. The 

 whole leaf, doubly compound and composed of a great 

 number of bluish-green leaflets, is generally three feet long, 

 and of two-thirds that width on thrifty trees ; and the 

 whole foliage hangs in a well-rounded mass, that would 

 .ook almost too heavy, were it not lightened in effect by 



* We think public opinion 1ms very much changed about this tree, since the 

 early editions of this work. Being then but newly introduced, and having (to 

 Americans) the very great merit of growing with remarkable rapidity, it was 

 very much sought after, and is now, we think, as universally neglected. The 

 exceedingly disagreeable odor of its flowers and young wood, and the trouble- 

 some habit of suckering, have quite thrown it into disfavor, especially since its 

 place can be now supplied by a much more effective tree, from the same coun- 

 try (Japan) : the Paulownia growing with equal rapidity, and having an early 

 Spring bloom, of great beauty and sweetness of perfume. H. W. S. 



