The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-12
The Atiar,iIsus. Tree of Heaven y
History and Defence.


History and Defence.
The following was written by distin.
g,,ished citizen of Ohio to gentleman OF
Cincinnati:
II learn that you are quite friendly to the
much abused aiauthus tree, and would like
to know something about its introduction
into Ohio. Perhaps ought 10 write on this
delicate subject in the strictest confidence,
because there are thousands Of thoughsless
persons who. unappreciaiive OF natures
choicest gifts, curse that tree. and would De
willing TO take the scalp Of the fellow VINO
first brought it here, II they could hud MN
out.
"About the year 1880 started on my
grounds, near the city. nursery for The pro.
pagation and sale Of fine fruit, shade, ana
ornamental-irees. My Object was to import
and spread new varieties rather than TO make
money by il. / purchased large quantlsles
of trees from an extensive nursery on Lone
Island. In examining one OF their descrip-
tive catalogues I observed an account OF an
ornamental shade.tree which the proprietofs
had raised from seed, then recently imported
from China. It bore the imposing name OF
sCbinpse AiIanthus, or Tree OF Heaven J. and
Il was described as a beantifut' tree with
great rapidity of growth. Presenting that
fhe sTree OF Heaven was another install
ment OF Heavens last, best gilt TO man. L
ordered few hundred at pretty steep rates.
There were then, think. none in Ohio
| perhaps none In the West. received them
one Years growth from the ,seed-aboui
three feet high and as thick az rye straWs.
| They were sold at the nursery and scattered
in all directions. The name created great
demand. From these pioneers an offspring
of billions of trees has followed. Could L
realize per tree now growing in the West at
| the rate sold the parent stock would will
ingly pay of the national debt next week.
! Could realize one nickel for every curse that
has been heaped upon this Tree of Heaven
/ would be able TO buy up oil the national
bank stock, have a general resumption OF
specie.payments tomorrow, with a reserve
fund sufficient TO pay the expenses OF the
next war with Mexico.
1T ia the best shade-tree for cities that
grows. because: l. 1t is very hardy and will
grow in any soil. 2. Its growth Is very ra-
hid. 8. In autumn one frost will bring to
the ground at once all its foliage, and but
one cleaning up of litter is necessary. 4. 1t
requires no protection Of boxes. 5. 1t an
swers the double purpose Of sbade.tree and
hitching.post; DO beast having ordinary
hard. horse sense will bite 1t more than
once. 6. Insects never infest it; it is always
clean.
"For the purpose Of fuel it is excellent.
II splits easy, and burns well either green or
drv. Some time during the second century
of our national existence the now much
condemned aiIanthus will be- blessed in cold
winter nights BY those scarce Of food as the
sTree of Heaven Our native forests. are
fast disappearing. The clterplllirs and
other insects that destroy them never touch
| this tree.
"Therc are seeds enough produced each
year within the limits Of this little city to
timber million of acres. / often wonder
that our raiIroud.mcn who own the lines
through the great plains and pralrlcs DO not
Gather the seeds of this blessed tree and
scatter them from the windows Of their cars
as they fy through the barren and tlmberlcSs
regions of the West. II they would do so,
in q very few years their roads would he
hnrdercd with groves Of timber, anu we
| would hear no more of 0bstTucllons by the
great snow drifts.
Recurring to the matter Of fuel, let me
suggest to YOU to cut from an allanthuS
piece of the bark, cutting down to the wood,
and ignite it by your gas.lgh.. 1t will burn
| like a taper. There seems TO be some sort OF
oil in it. Perhaps science, or some Yankee
genius, may yet discover some heal.all pro-
periies ia this oil.
1t must be conceded that to the olactory
nerves of some people the odor of the allan
thus. blossom is not grateful. The same may
be said Of sauerkrout, without wbIch an
honest Duichman in the mountains OF Penn
sylvania could not make respectable dim
ncr. The ladies' assure us that the otto OF
ailanthus has fragrance inferior to the otto OF
rose and the helitrope; but it is certain
" equal to the otto OF the male muskrat,
which, not long ago, they regarded as first
class perfumery! If the blossom OF this
tree be offensive will say that it is the male
tree aone.-.the 'be cuss '--.that bears the
blossom that emts the Objectionable odor.
The female tree, in this respect, has the
loveliuess that nature always imparts 10 that
gender only. 1t has no blossom, but puts
forth uuostentatiously the punches of seed,
which, with their variegated colors in au-
tumn, make it d most beautiful tree. and
which 20 forth on the wings OF the wind to
multiply and replenish the EARTH
when the people take second sober
thought on this subject mean to propose
thee cheers for the 'Tree of Heaven.''