‘25 
-“ tough-bunding asli 
Gives to the humble swain his useful plough, 
And for the peer his prouder chariot builds." 
Yet, beautiful and serviceable as it is, and despite the 
eulogium of Spenser, who entitles it 
“ The asli for nothing ill,” 
there are a few flaws attached to it. The small roots 
spread so widely, that they greatly impoverish the 
surrounding soil, and prevent the growth of grass or 
corn in its neighbourhood : this barrenness has been 
aforetime attributed to the prejudicial nature of its drip, 
but the notion is now disproved. The tardiness, also, 
with which it puts forth its leaves, and its hasty with¬ 
drawal of them, make it objected to by sylvan con¬ 
noisseurs, in ornamental plantations, especially in the 
immediate vicinity of a mansion ; since, though beautiful, 
like beauty, its graces are short-lived, and thus, to any 
scene where it predominates, it gives a look of dreariness 
and decay both in the opening and the declining year. 
The early fading and falling of the foliage of this tree 
may, however, serve as a counterpoise to the prodigality 
of bloom and of sunshine which frequently characterise 
the autumnal months, sometimes even late in the 
season, as though winter were yet afar off. These. 
