DECIDUOUS TREES. 
399 
hardily in dry poor soils ; for which, in fact, it is admirably adapted. 
But it is only during the first five years after planting that care must 
be taken to keep down its vigor. When deeply rooted the rate of 
growth is slower, and as it becomes a spreading tree, its beauty is 
greatly heightened by having a rich surface soil. 
The ailantus forms a low, square, broad head. There are no 
full grown trees in this country, but we believe it will attain a height 
and breadth of about sixty feet in the climate of Philadelphia, and 
somewhat less north. 
There are many features of the ailantus that give it a rare and 
peculiar beauty, admirably suited to add to the variety of colors and 
forms in groups of trees. We have no tree that can take its places 
none with such immense compound leaves, which alone give the tree 
an unique character j and they are thrust out boldly from the tree, 
thus showing their character to the best advantage. Their color is 
also of that thrifty yellowish-green, rare among our native trees, 
and therefore more needed in contrast with them. The flowers, 
in large terminal panicles, of a yellowish-green color, appear in 
May and June, and cover the tree with a feathery flowering that is 
very pleasing to the eye, however unpleasant in odor. In autumn 
these blossoms are changed to great masses of yellow and orange- 
brown seed-clusters that add greatly to beauty of the tree, and 
heighten the individuality of its expression. The leaves when 
touched by the cold occasionally turn a fine yellow, but drop 
quickly. The bark of the young wood is of a golden hue, and 
that of the trunk quite dark colored. 
THE LIQUIDAMBER OR SWEET GUM. Liquidamher. 
This is a great favorite in English parks, was warmly com- 
mended by Downing twenty years ago, and is widely distributed in 
its wild state throughout our country ; yet to this day it is almost 
unknown to a majority of suburban planters. The tree bears a 
general resemblance in form and foliage to the sugar maple, and 
grows to about the same size ; but when young has a more pointed 
top and conical form ; the leaves, however, are more star-like. 
