THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



ORTICULTURE. 



MAY, 1853. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Ailanthus and Silver Leaf Abels. 

 " Woodman spare that Tree." 



Alas ! that two such generally admired shade trees as the 

 ailanthus and abele, which have so long shared the popular 

 favor, should all at once have been doomed to destruction by 

 such a writer as the late Mr. Downing. " Down with the 

 ailanthus" and "down with the abele," was the substance 

 of one of the last articles which he penned just previous to 

 his death. They were not even allowed one saving grace, — 

 not one characteristic to entitle them to the least considera- 

 tion ; but heathens as they were, like the native inhabitants 

 from whence the ailanthus came, they were to be hewn 

 down and rooted out. 



We were greatly surprised at this sudden change of opinion 

 in one who had so long known their habits, and who had 

 never, to our recollection, even questioned their general repu- 

 tation as shade trees ; and could not account for so severe a 

 denunciation of them. Some unknown cause we thought 

 must exist for such an outbreak ; but the lamented death of 

 the writer deprived us of the opportunity of knowing the mo- 

 tive, and the respect which we entertained for the author, 

 induced us to defer any remarks until some more fitting op- 

 portunity. 



We are not willing to believe that one tree has been un- 



VOL. XIX. NO. V. 25 



