158 AILANTUS GLANDULOSA. 



if tliey are to be transported any great distance, they may be sown in boxes of 

 light earth, or sand and jH'at, protected under glass. It will grow in any soil, 

 though ouc that is liuht and scinicwhat humid, and in a slicltcrod situation, is 

 considered the best. In France, it is said to thrive un chalky soils, and attain a 

 large size, wliere scarcely any other tree will prosper. It grows with great rapid- 

 ity for the first ten or twelve years, producing annual shoots from three to six feet 

 in lemrth. and under favourable circumstances, it often attains a height of fifteen 

 or twenty feet in live or six years. Afterwards, its growth is nuich slower, 

 which renders it very valuable as a shade-tree, in situations of limited space; 

 although there is the disadvantage of the unpleasant odour of its llowers. The 

 leaves are not liable to be attacked by insects, which is a very great desidera- 

 tum, and as we before remarked, they continue on the tree, and retain their 

 verdure till the coming of the autumnal frosts, when the leaflets drop suddenly 

 olf and often leave the petioles on the tree some weeks longer. 



Properties and Uses. The wood of this species is very hard, compact, of a 

 deep-red colour, when old, resembling newly-wrought mahogany, and is often 

 beautifully veined with deep-gold colour and red. It is susceptible of the finest 

 polish, and has a fine, satin-like lustre, which renders it well suited for the pur- 

 poses of cabinet-making. From its capability of being raised on meagre and 

 worn-out soils, and the rapidity of its growth, it is thought that this tree might 

 be profitably cultivated for cabinet-wood, or to be treated as a coppice, to be cut 

 every tl^ird year for fuel. In France and Italy, it is much valued for shading 

 public walks, and is planted for that purpose along with the American tulip-tree, 

 (Liriodendron.) the horse-chesnut, the oriental plane, and other large-leaved exotic 

 trees. It also graces lawns and avenues in various parts of the United States, 

 and succeeds equally well as in its native country. 



