Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-16
EpfaI anb psrsonaI.

IN relation 10 The allanthus, 10 committee oil the
councils Of Philadelphia. We did so, and he has
readily placedit IN our possession, and we present
il 10 the public:
- OFFICE OF CoMM'R. PUBLIC BUILpNGs
CTTY OF WASHINGTON, January 10, 1854.
e G. A. WALBoRN ESQ, Chairman, &C., Philaaet-
phiG--D Dear Sir: Yours of the 10th instant is re-
ceived, and in answer 10 your inquiries, made
under a resolution Of the select and common coun-
ellis of the city of Philadelphia, to whetherthe
tree, known as the ailanthus tree, growing on the
footways Of the city, is offensive, poisonous, and
injurious to health have 10 say:
That the ailanthus tree is now growing, both in
the public grounds around the Capitol, the Presi-
dents house in this city, and the public streets,
an ornamental tree, in considerable numbers
Many of those in the Capitol grounds, from their
appearance, must be more than twenty years old.
They have been, and are still, under culture and
protection, and none have been destroyed 10 my
knowledge.
No action has ever been had by the city authori-
ties of Washington, or by any of my predecessors
in the Office Of Commissioner of Public Buildings
that know Of, with view 10 ascertain any facts
in regard TO this tree.
In the general appropriation act Of the second
session of the 32d Congress, statutes at large,
pamphlet copy, p. 2o7, you will find attached to
the provision for the care and ornament OF the
public grounds, condition Shat no more allan
thus trees shall be purchased or planted;" fur
nishing, probably, the first instance on record Of
an act attaindsr against tree!
This is, ! think, the only official action that has
occurred here on this subject; and the reasons
for il may be readily imagined by all who reside
within reach Of the fragrance Of the ailanthus.
In the time Of its Towering, this tree fills the
air with astrong odor, offensive to all and to many
absolutely intolerable. yellow dust is also shed
from the flower, which, in the expressive words
Of another, alooks like curry powder, and smells
like the plague"
have seen no evidence that the tree, from any
although have frequently heard the suggestion
made that il must be SO, and have known those
whom the odor from it nauseated.
In the HoyticuAuriss of August, 1852, Mr..
Downing, whose authority in such matters is en-
titled, perhaps, TO more weight than that Of any
other single individual Of his time, has fully ex-
pressed his sympathy ththe popular cry "down
with the aianthus.o He rests his condemnation
upon the grounds that il smells horribly both sn
leaf aud oavsr !" that it suckers badly, and SO is
troublesome to the cutivator; and, finally that il
usurps the place Of our native trees of more value
for shade and beauty.
fully sympathise with Mr.. Downing in his con-
slant and Incorporating opposition to the intro
duction of worthless foreign trees to take the place
of our own noble oaks, naples elms, &C., and
his remark upon the ailanthus that it has edrawn
away our attention from our own more noble ma
BILE native American trees TO waste it on this
miserable pigtal Of an Indiaman" will be respond
ed to by every patriot
Soon after the publication Of the article from
which the foregoing extracts are made, il was
stated that Mr.. Downing had overlooked an inn
portani fact connected with the character of this
tree, and subsequent investigation, seems 10 con-
firm that idea.
The ailanthus is a tree of Diocious class, hav-
ing its staminate and pistillate, or male and fe-
male blossoms on different trees. The staminate
blossoms, only, it is said, offensive, the pist-
late blossoms having very little odor, not enough
to offend the most fastidious
Should this be found to be correct, as I am sat
isfed, though not by personal investigation, il is,
discrimination may easily be made in favor of
the innocent female member Of the family, while
the disagreeable sex may be exterminated. For
all purposes, but that of perfecting its Seed either
will Of course flourish as well without as with its
mate. The reason why this distraction has not
been better understood, is this, that in England,
for some reason depending on the climate, the
ailanthus does not often, ever, blossom; and its
introduction to this country is comparatively re-
cent. Mr.. Downing says the LEAF, as well as the
flower, is ofensive but, if this be SO, its offence
is not so "rank;;n it does not asmell to heaven"
like the flower. Tho leaf, when crushed, is un-
pleasant to the smell. Whether there is any diff
ference in this particular, between the two classes
of the tree, i do not know; but an examination
made byme, since the receipt of your letter, sat
isles me that the bark OF the stGn,inatetree when
crushed, emits a perceptibly stronger odor than
the other.
The staminate trees are far more numerous
than the pistllatc here, and probably, il is so in
Philadelphia, as am informed it is in New York.
This arises, ii is presumed, merely by accident,
the suckers from the staminate having been chief
w used at the introduction of the tree to this
country.
The sexes may BIO readily distinguished in the
time of the blossoms; and even through most OF
the winter; on full grown pistillate trees, the
pods containing the seeds may be found, while the
staminates show nothing OF the kind These con-
sideratons are certainly worth attention, as it is
an objectionable piece Of vandalism to destroy,
without good cause, well-grown shade tree in
city, and no such act should be perpetrated, ex-
cept upon such solemn deliberation as your au-
ihorities seem disposed TO exercise.
Having thus, with great pleasure, complied with
vour request for whatever information might
have on the subject, I am, very respectfully
vour,. &c. B. B. FRENCH,
Commissioner Of Public Buildings.
False Measures Yesterday morning. gen.
,leman paid for three quarts Of strawberries in
the Centre Market, but when he returned home
and measured them by the true standard, he dis
covered that he had only received two; the ven
der having made use Of a cheating measure