680 REMARKS ABOUT PLANTING. [Mar. 



DB AW BACKS TO THE AIL AN THUS. 



Translated for Forestry from the Gcntralhlatt filr das gesammtc 



Forstwcsen. 



THE Ailanthus {Ailanthns glandulosa) has in recent times been 

 largely introduced into I'rance under the name of Vcrnis du 

 Jajjon (the Japan Varnish Tree), and also into other countries. It 

 has become quite a favourite with foresters on account of its (|uick 

 growth and excellent wood, and with gardeners also, for the former 

 reason, but more especially on account of the beauty of its foliage. 

 Tt has, however, according to the most recent experience, its darker 

 side, and we are counselled to exercise a certain forethought in its 

 employment for planting. By these recent experiences, the hope, 

 once entertained, of finding in this tree a means of rapidly convert- 

 ing bare wastes into thriving woods, has Iteen very greatly lowered. 

 It has been found that on account of its great sensitiveness to frost, 

 the Ailanthus will survive only in situations where the cold is 

 mitigated by shelter. The soil, too, for the Ailanthus must be deep 

 and tolerably moist ; for experiments with it on dry, sandy, and 

 shallow soil have yielded very unsatisfactory results. Another 

 disagreeable peculiarity, apt to be important in some cases, has been 

 discovered by M. Caraven-Cachin quite recently, according to a com- 

 munication in the Chronique forcsttere. In the very pungent and 

 resinous sap of its leaves and young shoots there is contained a 

 poisonous substance, which is dangerous for all birds, and to ducks 

 in particular absolutely deadly. It should therefore never be 

 planted near poultry yards, nor near waters which are frequented 

 by ducks, for the ducks would readily reach and greedily devour 

 the juicy leaves of its numerous root-suckers. 



BEMABK8 ABOUT PLANTING, BOTH OLD AND NEW. 



BY LOTHAR ABEL, AECHITECT. 



Translated for Forestry from the CentralUatt fur das gesammte 



Forsttvesen. 



IN the earliest epochs of our era trees already excited attention and 

 admiration. The Eomans especially were fond of planting, and 

 this they must have derived from the Greeks and from the " botanical " 

 work of Theophrastus. AVe know that by the learned Hellenes it 



