Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-12
AILANTnUs or BILLY GOAT TREE.

Every return OF summer brings along with it
discussion as 10 the merits of this tree Ii has
many and bitter enemies, and if we may Judge
by the few who put in plea for it, bat /
number OF friends. The few, even, who kindly
take ITS part, make its dement's, rather than its
virtues, the ground of their advocacy. They
seek To save il from the axe for pretty much the
same reason that turkey buzzards are protected
~ Charleston, and hogs are permitted to run
about villages too small to encounter the expense
OF human scavengers. Both sides Of the question
are presented in the two following extracts. The
first is from the New York Times II is as fol-
lows:
Even the Ailanthus has friend We have
no DOUBT that there are undertakes who think
well Of the cholera, and every nuisance probably
has ITS defender. Somebody sends US letter
dcprecatng the attacks on his lavorte tree
the Allanthus, and, among other things in lis
favor, says that it is of great service to the city
as ITS leaves absorb the foul smells of the streets
ms, we must confess, would be about as power
ful a recommendation of tree as could be oiven
ana we think 1t must be true but then, the foul
efiluvla which the leaves of the Alanthus absorb
are all emitted again in condensed essence by
the iioWcrs OF the same tree, that we gain or
rather lose, nothing by the process The simple
facts about the Ailanthus are that no insect will
feed on its foliage, and SO poisonous is the odor
that II emits that no bird will build its nest in
its branches, or even light upon them II bears
no fruit, its wood is worthless and its odor Is
poisonous II il absorbs the nosome odors of
our streets, the fact is only an evidence of its
dirty habits, and affinity for filth
Inc next IS communication taken from the
columns OF the Journal Of Commerce, as follows:
The AiIanthus.
MEssRs. EDITORS: About this season of the
year number OF extremely delicate and well-in-
formed % persons commence an onslaupht mon
the Ailanthus. few days since, the itemsman
OF lhe Ii7oune perpetrated kind of epic curse
against the Tree, showing his ignorance and mean
ness at the same tme now correspondent &c the
Times steps forward and fires two successive VOL
leys at the devoted shade. He saws It produces
sickness, and that it is Of the Bohon Upas char
acter All this is wanting in even faint of truth
The Ailanthus is not of the Upas species nor has
y any disease producing smell. Thousands sleep
Where It's fragrance impregnates the air, and enioy
sound health. Why don't these AiIapthns
enemies state the diseases produced, and instance
some OF the sutferers' Denunciation amounts tn
nothing; lei US have the proof. If it created
malaria, why are not all those sick before whose
doors the tree is in bloom; No, no: the tree Is
almost the only clean and practical shade tree we
ENJOY Its shade IS extensive, its growth i rand
its leaves free from loathsome insects and IL
vitality not affected by casualties Of an ordinary
kind. Look at the native trees and what are
they; siunted in growth, and misshapen or dis
gushing with worms Trees planted eight wears
ago, and now within my view, have been stripped
by the caterpillar; and when the leaves return,
their shade will not equal an Ailanthus three
years old The truth is that this prosecuted tree
is eminenty beneficial to heaIth its leaves absorb
copiously the foul smells of the streets. and is
tender roots furnish an invaluable Ingredient for
medicine in scorbutic and cancerous Complaints
Let these over-selsitve, capricious, and deyasta-
ting parties come out with their facts, before they
ask the Common Council TO DESTROY. Nv oiving
the above a place in your columns, you will obige
yours, &c J. JONES
July 9th, 1855