DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
209 
and are succeeded by ample brown pods, flat and somewhat 
curved, which contain six or seven large gray seeds, imbedded 
in a sweet pulpy substance. As the genus is dioecious, it is 
necessary that both sexes of this tree should be growing near 
each other, in order to produce seed. 
When Kentucky was first settled by the adventurous pio- 
neers from the Atlantic States, who commenced their career 
in the primeval wilderness, almost without the necessaries 
of life, except as produced by them from the fertile soil ; 
they fancied that they had discovered a substitute for coflee 
in the seeds of this tree, and accordingly the name of Coffee 
tree was bestowed upon it : but when a communication 
was established with the seaports, they gladly relinqnished 
their Kentucky beverage, for the more grateful flavour of 
the Indian plant ; and no use is at present made of it in 
that manner. It has, however, a fine, compact wood, highly 
useful in building or cabinet-work. 
The Kentucky Coffee tree is well entitled to a place in 
every collection. In summer, its charming foliage and agree- 
able flowers render it a highly beautiful lawn tree ; and in 
winter, it is certainly one of the most novel trees, in appear- 
ance, in our whole native sylva. Like the Ailantus, it is 
entirely destitute of small spray, but it also adds to this the 
additional singularity of thick, blunt, terminal branches, 
without any perceptible buds. Altogether it more resembles 
a dry, dead, and withered combination of sticks, than a 
living and thrifty tree. Although this would be highly 
monotonous and displeasing, were it the common appearance 
of our deciduous trees in winter ; yet, as it is not so, but a 
rare and very unique exception to the usual beautiful diver- 
sity of spray and ramification, it is highly interesting to 
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