YELLOW- WOOD. 193 



This tree was discovered by Michaux, the younger, and was sent by him to 

 France, previous to the year 1809. it was first introduced into England by .Mr. 

 John Lyon, in 1812, and seeds having since been frequently sent to Europe, it is 

 low to be met with in all the chief collections. 



The largest recorded tree of this species in England, is at White Knights, near 

 Reading, which attained the height of twenty-three feet in twenty-five years after 

 planting, with a trunk live inches in diameter, and an ambitus, or spread of 

 branches, of twenty feet. 



In Ireland, near Dublin, in the Cullenswood nursery, there is another tree, 

 which attained the height of twenty-five feet in seventeen years after planting. 



At Cambridge, in Massachusetts, in the botanic garden, there is a Virgilia 

 about thirty feet in height, with a trunk ten or twelve inclies in diameter. In 

 the Bartram botanic garden, at Kingsessing, near Philadelphia, there is also a 

 tree of this species of about the same dimensions, and another in the garden of 

 Mr. D. Landreth, of Philadelphia, twenty-five feet high, with a trunk six feet in 

 circumference, and about thirty-five years planted. 



Soil, Situation, ^'c. In its natural habitat, the Virgilia grows on gentle decliv- 

 ities, in a loose, deep, and fertile soil, and is usually associated with the iMorus 

 rubra, Gymnocladus canadensis, Gleditschia, Juglans, and other trees which 

 delight in a good soil. When cultivated, an open, airy situation is desirable, in 

 order that it may ripen its wood; and, to promote the same purpose in a cold 

 climate, the soil should be dry, rather than rich. It is readily propagated by 

 seeds, in the same manner as the common locust. 



Properties and Uses. The wood of the Cladrastis tinctoria is soft, fine-grained, 

 and is remarkable for the deep-yellow colour of its heart, which speedily imparts 

 this hue to cold water. But the colour is fugitive, even when the wood is boiled 

 with alum. There is but very little use made of this tree either in Europe or 

 America, except for the purposes of ornament and botanical interest. It is rather 

 late in coming into leaf, and its leaves fall very early, previously becoming of 

 a fine yellow. Independent of its beautiful vegetation, the brilliant colour of its 

 heart would appear to be a sufficient inducement for cultivating the species for 

 the purpose of dyeing. 



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