278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



But, to show more clearly the real value of the wood of 

 the ailanthus, it will be necessary to compare its specific 

 gravity with that of some of the woods commonly employed 

 in the United States, either for cabinet-making or as fuel. 



Specific gravity of ailanthus .614: 



eastern hickory .838 



best San Domingo mahogany . . . .800 



eastern white oak .662 



black walnut .577 



" " canoe birch ,539 



Honduras mahogany ,521 



wild cherry .488 



So that, considered as a wood for cabinet-making, ailan- 

 thus is twenty-three per cent lighter than the best mahogany, 

 and sixteen per cent heavier than the ordinary mahogany 

 with which this market is principally supplied : it is but 

 seven per cent lighter than the best eastern second-growth 

 white oak, while it is six per cent heavier than black walnut, 

 and twenty-six per cent heavier than wild cherry. 



In structure the wood of the ailanthus bears a close resem- 

 blance to that of oak. The annual layers of wood are clear- 

 ly and strongly defined by the accumulation on their inner 

 side, in one to three rows, of large dotted ducts ; the exterior 

 portion being made up of very small, compact cells, through 

 which, however, unlike the structure of oak, are scattered 

 other smaller ducts, intermediate in size between the large 

 exterior ones and the small cells, which form the compact 

 portion of each annual layer. The medullary rays are un- 

 usually numerous, and clearly defined, although thinner than 

 in white and many other species of oak. The wood of the 

 ailanthus is of a pale straw-color, unlike in appearance that 

 produced by any of our native trees. It is susceptible of 

 high polish, and, when cut vertically, the large medullary 

 rays (the silver grain of the cabinet-maker) give it a bright 

 satiny appearance, which is heightened by contrast with the 

 brown lines marking the commencement of each annual 

 growth. It is about as hard as black walnut, and can be 

 worked as easily as that wood. It is readily and easily sea- 

 soned, and shows no inclinations to warp or start. 



In Providence, R.I., there is a set of furniture made from 

 the wood of two ailanthus-trees, only twenty years old, and 



