AILANTHUS OR TREE OF HEAVEN 17 



is quite evident from the way the tree succeeds in 

 many parts of the East End, and in the confined and 

 dirty precincts of the Church of St. Magnus the 

 Martyr it has quite ousted the Plane from the field. 

 In the City, as at Finsbury Circus and other parts, 

 the Ailanthus grows with the greatest freedom. 



The Ailanthus is readily distinguished from any 

 other tree, especially when leafless, by the stout, thick 

 growths and comparative absence of branchlets, as 

 well as by the dark-grey colour of the comparatively 

 smooth bark. Few trees possess such elegant foliage 

 and graceful habit as the Ailanthus, which with its 

 towering growth would seem to justify its popular 

 name ' Tree of Heaven.' 



The small, greenish- white flowers are not very 

 conspicuous, but when followed by innumerable keys 

 somewhat similar to those of an Ash, though smaller 

 and of a bright reddish-brown colour, the effect is 

 distinct and decidedly ornamental. When cut back 

 annually, as is done in Regent's Park, the Ailanthus 

 shoots freely and produces leaves of enormous pro- 

 portions, which impart to the plant a decidedly tropical 

 appearance. During a long experience of London 

 trees we have never known the Ailanthus to suffer 

 from disease or insect attacks. 



Complaints have been made that the Ailanthus 

 is a shy rooter, and in consequence is apt to be blown 

 over during stormy weather. This is, however, only 

 the case when root-offshoots are planted directly 

 after being removed from the stool, and is rarely so 

 when by nursery management the young trees have 

 produced bushy, fibrous roots. 



For town planting the Ailanthus is peculiarly 

 suited, but the qualities that will above all others 



