The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-28

The last number of the Scientific american con
tains the following reply to an article from the
Horticulturist, copied few weeks since in this
paper, in regard to the ailanthus tree in cities:
ain tho Hortic,Atrist of last month, of which the
accomplished and lamented A. J. Downing was the
editor there is sharp md siashing article against
the ailanthus shade tree for cities and villages.
The article recommends the axe to be laid to the
root of this tree at once and to substitute for it the
native maple and the tulip tree. The reasons given
for this are two, and only two-namely, its often
sive smell, and it's overrunning propagating
qualities The latter vics, it ia termed, Of this
tree, is too puerile for it's extermnato ion;
the irst--its bad SMELLS the only good one. The
trouble Of Topping down sucker, 10 nothing at all
except to lazy people. 1t is acknowledged that in
foliage it is beautiful, and that none of the ugly
vermin, 30 prolific among other shade trees in
cities, trouble it. 1t grows very fast, is straight
and oriental-Iike. with its nodding plume of long
slender leaves; should we not consider the propo
stion for it's destruction WE'LL however high the
authority may be, before the public consents it's
death? This ia wisdom. And first it should be ask
ed, Has it really such bad odor as will not com
pensate for all its good qualified? Iii has, lay the
axe quickly to it's root; if not, 'Woodman Spare
that Tree Our olfactory nerves may not be 30
acute as those Of some others; therefore cannot
consent to its DEATH but we must say that we like
our native maple and tulip trees much better; they,
however. much slower in growth to form shade
trees than the ailanthus
"We learn by the Wtstern Horticultural Repie,y,
CINCINNATI, tndt spirited DISCUSSION was recently
held by the Cincinnati horticultural Society, in
which the merits and dement's Of this tree were
freely canvnsscd. Its merits, as set forth by the
Ohio Horticultural, fairly threw every argu-
ment for it's extirpaton in the shade. Mr.. Ernst,
during long experience, never knew any malaria
or poisonous effects to proceed from it, it free
from insects and beautiful tree in any situation.
Mr. r. Buchanan gave the eame testimony; but
the majority of the Society agreed that it had an
unpleasant odor, which an old gardener stated
might easily be abated by cutting off the stamens,
by pr oper instrument, just before they expanded
as ali odors chiefly arose from them.
"Our people are too liable to go every thing by
fashionable excitements, instead of individual in
dependent taste. This is tho why whole
avenues of one kind of tree may be seen in one
place, and whole avenues of different kind ofree
in another place; and how at one time one kind OF
tree only will be in demand and at another pc
Rod a different tree will be the only in de-
mand. We like to see variety; and the ailanthus
il a beautiful, suitable, and excellent tree to give
a chequered air Of beauty to the scene. We do
not like to sec any street lined and shaded with
only one kind of tree; we like to the maple
whitewood, mountain ash, horse chestnut, allan
thus, Sc, mingled in harmonious rows"