FOREST TREES. 



101 



foliage ; but none are superior as an ornamental tree to the 

 original or parent stock. 



AILAOTUS, Oil AILANTO. 



*'Tree of Heaven" is a free translation of the Chinese name 

 Ailanto, but Ailantus glandulosa is the generally recognized 

 scientific name of a large tree of the Quassia family, native of 

 China, and introduced into English gardens in the middle of the 

 last century, and since distributed over Europe and the greater 

 part of America. It is a large, spreading tree, with coarse, 

 blunt, stiff branches, clothed in summer Vv^ith long, unequally 

 pinnate leaves— not unlike in form those of our common Stag- 

 horn Sumach. The stem is usually very straight ; bark smooth, 

 of a light, grayish color. This tree was introduced into the 

 United States early in the present century, and attracted con- 

 siderable attention as an ornamental tree. Owing to its re- 

 markably rapid growth, its somewhat unique appearance, and 

 the rapidity with which it could be propagated, nurserymen 

 were encouraged to extol it very highly and urge it upon their 

 customers, far and wide. For a number of years it was in great 

 demand, and the "Tree of Heaven" became very popular as a 

 street tree in all of the larger cities and villages, besides being 

 extensively planted in public and private parks and gardens. 

 But so soon as the trees reached a bearing age, it was discovered 

 that the flowers emitted a most sickening and disagreeable 

 odor, and this called forth as loud and widespread denuncia- 

 tions, as had formerly been bestowed in high praise of this tree. 

 Thousands were cut down, but where the roots were not dug 

 uj) entire, the pieces left in the ground sprouted, and in many 

 instances produced a forest of trees, where previously there had 

 been but one. This sprouting appears to be a natural charac- 

 teristic of the tree, and when the roots are disturbed, broken, or 

 otherwise injured in working the soil, the habit is intensified 

 many fold. From whence came the disagreeable odor, or from 

 which sex of the flowers, has been a subject that has provoked 

 much discussion ; but it is usually credited to the staminate 

 flowers borne on trees distinct and se^Darate from those pro- 

 ducing pistillate, and this has led some nurserymen to seek this 

 sex from which to propagate a stock of odorless plants. But 

 while this is a step in the right direction, it is not likely to be 

 successful, except in the hands of very close and accurate ob- 

 servers ; for, in fact, there are three kinds of Ailantus flowers, 



