Ailanthus and Silver Leaf Ahele. 195 



have found out their defects sooner ; and in a work intended 

 to guide the public taste, have warned them not to plant trees, 

 one of which " smells horridly," and the other " fills the air 

 with fine down," and which, just as they have come to their 

 full size, after the loss of a dozen years, he tells us must 

 come "down." 



Every tree has its value. The ailanthus and the abele 

 have theirs. We admit, freely, that they have usurped the 

 places which should have been filled with American oaks, 

 maples, chestnuts, tupelo trees, Kentucky coffee trees, &c. 

 This, however, was not so much the result of a want of taste 

 in all cases, as it was a scarcity of better trees. For years 

 and years, all that could be obtainedat our nurseries, of any 

 size, were elms — elms — elms — and individuals were as tired 

 of elms as it would appear they have now become of the 

 ailanthus. When, therefore, the ailanthus and abele were in- 

 troduced to notice, they came as a real boon to planters, just 

 when they wanted a change ; and as their rapid growth was 

 in keeping with the go-ahead propensities of our people, they 

 were greedily sought after and planted, to the exclusion of 

 better trees. Could our American limes or silver maples 

 have been supplied as readily and as cheap, for cheapness 

 is, after all, a great item, they would undoubtedly have been 

 planted to a much greater extent than they are at present. 



But are the defects of these trees as great as is asserted ? 

 Are they so horribly smelling that their disagreeable odor 

 for a week or two, will not compensate for their grateful shade 

 and rich foliage for six months in the year ? In estimating 

 the character of a tree, all things must be taken into account, 

 and if the good outweighs the bad, it must still be a desirable 

 one. If not suitable for a street, where its branches reach' 

 every window in the house, and diffuse the disagreeable 

 odor of its flowers, (for disagreeable it is,) is it not a fine ob- 

 ject among other trees in landscape scenery, where its odor is 

 lost in the broad expanse of fresh air, or is not perceptible ? 

 We think so, and we believe all planters of taste will admit 

 that it is a tree which, for its masses of light and shade, is 

 scarcely surpassed. Even in the streets of our crowded cities. 



