AILANTHUS 



the one that it retains its foliage bright and fresh and green 



throughout the late summer when so many trees become 



ragged and unsightl)'. This 



characteristic especially rec- 

 ommends it as a city tree. 



Then, too, it grows rapidly, 



as do all trees whose roots 



run near the surface of the 



ground, and the growing 



stems of young plants will 



often make from four to six 



feet in a single summer. It 



sends forth suckers abini- 



dantly, its winged seeds are 



borne by the wind to many 



a ciack and crevice, and its 



seetllings have a fashion of 



coming up close to the foun- 

 dations of city houses and 



flourishing there. Apparent- 

 ly it delights in meagre and 



barren soils, for it often 



prospers where few other 



trees will grow. No insect enemies have as yet appeared, 

 if there are any in China they seem not to have mi- 

 gi'ated. 



The branches look clumsy in winter because of the entire 

 absence of small spray ; this is a characteristic of all trees 

 with large compound leaves. It will be readily seen that 

 this must be so, otherwise the twig could not sustain the ac- 

 cumulated weight of the leaves. All the twigs look upward, 

 not one turns to the earth. 



The beauty of the unfolding leaves is one of the sights of 

 spring time. The tufts of young leaves with their bronze 

 greens and madder browns and pale green tips glow in a 

 brilliant atmosphere like the wings of a golden pheasant. 

 Bring one into the house, put it into a proper vase, set it in 



39 



Ailanthus ; Cluster of Samaras. 



