AND SHRUBS POE CITIES. 



171 



about Paris^ and around numbers of Frencb country bouses. 

 It bas been well employed in Paris, as may be seen on the 

 nortb side of tbe Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle. During tbe 

 first days of September, 1868 — days as bot as they were in 

 July — I examined tbese trees, and found tbem as green and 

 as fresb as could be desired, wben Chestnuts, Limes, Elms, 

 and all around looked as if they had passed a few moments 

 over a brisk fire. The stems of the trees were straight, 

 and just about the right elevation for a shade-giving tree, 

 and the heads spread out flat, so as to give complete shade 

 without betraying an awkward tendency to rise too high, so 

 as to require clipping to prevent them from keeping the 

 light from the upper windows. The large leaves were quite 

 fresh — a sufficient proof after such a season as the past 

 that it is one of the very best trees for city planting. The 

 Paulownia, the Ailantus, and the Plane seem to preserve 

 a freshness and vigour no matter how great the heat and 

 abundant the dust. The forest trees of our own latitudes do 

 not do this, and fall into the sere and withered leaf while 

 their companions from Japan and America are in the greenest 

 health. It is not easy to imagine a greater improvement 

 than that which would be effected by planting this tree where 

 a low and yet good shade is required. It is also worthy of 

 attention as a town garden tree, and for similar reasons. 



Ailantus glandulosa — sometimes called the " Tree of 

 Heaven/'' and by the French Vernis du Japon — is a town tree 

 of great excellence. When in a young state it is graceful 

 from its long pinnate leaves — when old and well-grown it 

 becomes a noble forest tree. But the qualities that will 

 above all others recommend it to the town planter are its 

 perfect health and freshness, under all circumstances, in 

 towns. Dust, foul air, or drought seem to have little or no 

 effect upon it. For parks and avenues it is indispensable, 

 as it perfectly retains its foliage long after our own deci- 

 duous trees have been scorched by drought and dust. It 

 seems to do equally well on all soils, having a constitution 

 and a leathery texture which seem perfectly indifferent to 

 any vicissitude of climate witnessed in these latitudes. 



Everywhere in cities that beautiful and distinct tree, the 



