ARBORICULTURE 



321 



The Ailanthus Tree. 



Among the several forest and shade 

 trees imported from Asia, the Ailan- 

 thus, at the present time offers to 

 America t^reater inducements for its 

 culture than other exotic forest trees. 



The terribly disagreeable odor from 

 the staminate flowers, sickening in the 

 extreme, condems the Ailanthus as a 

 shade tree for the home garden or in 

 the proximity to human dwellings, and 

 for this reason it should be outlawed in 

 every city and hamlet of the land. 



But we discuss the tree from the 

 forest standpoint, their value for lum- 

 ber, for fuel, for manufacturing pur- 

 poses, and not solely their qualifica- 

 tions for shade, odor or beauty. 



Thirty years ago I urged the plant- 

 ing of the Ailanthus upon the plains 

 and prairies of the west, where this 

 trees has since proven amply success- 

 ful to warrant its extensive cultivation. 



Dr. Asa Gray says of it : "Ailanthus 

 glandulosus, Dest., the only species 

 known here, from China, is a common 

 shade tree, tall, of rapid growth, with 

 hard wood, very long pinnate leaves." 



I exhibited at the St. Louis Fair a 

 pannel veneered with Ailanthus veneer 

 which attracted much attention and 

 from the special request of an author 

 of note it was sent to Europe. 



The wood is quite hard, remarkably 

 so for so rapidly growing a tree. The 

 grain very much resembles a beautiful 

 specimen of White Ash. 



As a lumber tree it would surpass 

 the Ash in rank, while the wood can 

 be produced in one-third the time of 

 the Ash, which is a valuable asset as 

 we so rapidly approach the treeless 

 age. 



The Ailanthus resembles a tropical 

 tree from the graceful appearance of 

 its foliage, while it is of tropical or- 



igin. 



On account of this tree having only 

 been planted for shade, and at consider 

 able distance between trees, it usually 

 forms a head quite low, with too short 



a trunk to possess a lumber value ; this 

 may be overcome by closer planting or 

 by pruning away side branches. 



As a village tree its numerous suck- 

 ers condemn it, while under forest con- 

 ditions this suckering propensity 

 would be an advantage. 



The Ailanthus seeds very freely and 

 plants may be grown either from seed 

 or suckers, or from cuttings of the 

 roots. 



A gentleman usually very observant 

 and well informed told me recently 

 of a Kentucky farmer who had used 

 Ailanthus fence posts and recommend- 

 ed tliem. While I have been of the 

 impression that the wood was of little 

 durability in contact with the soil, yet 

 I am unable to either confirm or deny 

 this statement. If others have had 

 experience in this matter Arboriculture 

 will be glad to have the information. 



The hardiness of the Ailanthus, its 

 very extensive distribution, great 

 abundance of seed, ease of propagation, 

 hardness of wood, beauty of grain,, 

 ability to withstand drouth, give this 

 tree a very large list of excellent qual- 

 ifications. 



It has few insect enemies, is not sub- 

 ject to serious disease, and should re- 

 ceive the attention of forest planters, 

 in all portions of the United States 

 and of the world at large. 



Rough hill and mountain lands and 

 semi arid sands will produce Ailanthus 

 trees in abundance in a brief period 

 of time. 



The Ailanthus as a Nurse Tree. 



There are many of our finer foliaged 

 trees, and especially the Conifers, 

 which do not transplant readily into 

 new soils and make satisfactory pro- 

 gress without the protection of some 

 shade. Nurserymen grow evergreen 

 seedlings under screens which are 

 sometimes made of lath. In a forest, 

 this would be impractical, on account 

 of great area to be protected. 



