76 



ACHE TREE.) This plant, although a northern shrub, does not, it is 

 probable, grow naturally within the county limits. There are in 

 Boxford, Danvers, and Georgetown several localities for Prickly Ash. 

 Mrs. W. S. Homer kindly furnishes the following information : "The 

 Prickly Ash was brought from Topsfleld in 1835 and planted in several 

 places in this vicinity, by Mf. Andrew Horner, who held its medicinal 

 properties in much esteem. The plant is growing in several places 

 here as a shrub from six to twelve feet high, perhaps under better 

 conditions it might grow larger." It would be interesting to know 

 when and by whom it was introduced into Topsfleld. 



AlLANTHUS GLANDULOSUS. (TREE OF HEAVEN. CHINESE StJMACH.) 



A native of China, introduced into this country in 1784, at Philadel- 

 phia. This very handsome tree was extensively planted as a shade 

 tree in our cities, but the offensive odor of the staminate flowers 

 made it unpopular, and it was found that the pollen and fallen flowers 

 injured the water collected from the roofs of houses near which the 

 trees were planted. 



This tree is well adapted for planting in sandy soil, as 'for instance 

 that of Plum Island. The Russian government use it on the steppes, 

 where it has been remarkably successful. The wood is handsome, 

 excellent for furniture, somewhat resembling oak. This tree is very 

 easy of propagation, for, besides being raised from seeds, every bit of 

 root when cut in pieces will form a bud. For a shade tree this 

 suckering is objectionable. A very full account of the Ailanthus will 

 be found in the Twenty-fifth Annual Report of the Secretary of the 

 Board of Agriculture of Mass., by Prof. C. S. Sargent, from which 

 this brief account is taken. 



A JST A C ARD I A C E M. 



(CASHEW Family.) 



Rims typhina, L. (STAGHORN SUMACH.) Quite common in 

 various parts of the county. A tree in the garden of Mr. Joel Kim- 

 ball in Beverly, measured in 1878, 25 feet in height, with a diameter 

 of 10 inches. 



Rhus glabra, L. (SMOOTH SUMACH.) Abundant, particularly in 

 Wenham, Ipswich, and Hamilton. 



Rhus copalliua, L. (DWARF SUMACH.) In similar localities to 

 the last. 



Rhus venenata, D C. (POISON SUMACH.) Poison Dogwood is 

 an unfortunate name to give to this plant, although it is the one by 

 which it is most generally known. The Dogwoods all have large 

 panicles of white flowers and are harmless to handle, while the poison 

 Sumach has inconspicuous flowers. 



