384 



. Ailantus. — The ailaiitus appears to be one of the most promising 

 trees for cultivation in the West. It tlirives well e'sen on liard and stony 

 soils. It is a native of China, but lias for inany years been cultivated 

 in Europe and in tbis country. It approaches in botanical affinities 

 nearer to the wafer-ash, or hop-tree, than to any other tree of this coun- 

 try. It produces flowers of two lands, generally on different trees. 

 The male ilowers are produced in large panicles, and are of a greenish- 

 yellow color and very disagreeable odor, which circumstance has made 

 it quite unpopular as a shade-tree in cities. This, however, would not 

 be a serious objection to its cultivation as a forest-tree. The wood is 

 hard and fine grained, and well adapted to cabinet-work. It is also 

 good for fuel. In Franco and Southern Europe it grows to a large size 

 on chalky soils, where few other trees will live. It has been largely 

 planted ^u the plains of Southern Russia to fix the loose, blowing sands. 

 North of latitude 40° it will probably bo too tender fof profitable culti- 

 vation. It is easily propagated, either from seeds, suckers, or root-cut- 

 tings. It was introduced into this country under the name of " Tree of 

 Heaven," and is indeed a beautiful tree when in full foliage. 



Ash. — We have five or six native species of ash, all of which are orna- 

 mental and useful trees, but two species, "the white and the blue, are 

 especially valuable and should be among the kinds planted by every 

 cultivator. The timber of the ash is adapted to a great variety of uses, 

 particularly in the manufacture of farming-tools. On account of the 

 great demand for this timber for agricultural implements, for carriages, 

 and furniture, it is becoming source, and its cultivation promises to be 

 very remunerative at an earlj^ day. The white ash becomes one of our 

 largest forest-trees, attaining the height of 70 or 80 feet with sometimes 

 a diameter of 3 feet at the base. The wood is white and remarkable for 

 its toughness and elasticity. For these qualities it is used for hoops, 

 I)itchfork and rake handles, and for wagon-shafts. Emerson relates that 

 an ash tree in Granville, Massachusetts, was rived into 3,000 rake-han- 

 dles. It was 4J- feet in diameter and had a shaft of 70 feet without a 

 limb. The white ash requires a deep, moist soil for its greatest perfec- 

 tion. Most prairie soils are well adapted to its growth. It bears trans- 

 planting well, and is remarkably exempt from the attacks of insects. 

 The blue ash occurs in the bottom lauds of the Western States. It may 

 be readily distinguished by the young shoots being square or sharply 

 four-sided. The wood is said to be more durable even than that of the 

 white ash, especially when exposed to the weather, as for fence -posts, 

 stakes, and rails. This species has a southern and the white ash a north- 

 ern range, and probably the blue ash will be best adapted to cultivation 

 south of 40° and the white ash north of that latitude. The seed of 

 either may be sown in the fall, thinly covered with earth, and lightly 

 mulched with straw, or it may be sown in the spring, after being mixed 

 with moist sand and exposed for a few days to a warm sun. 



The toaJnuts. — The black walnut is a timber of so mucli importance in 

 cabinet-work, and is becoming so scarce by the constantly increasing 

 demand, that no tree-cultivator should neglect to give it a place in his 

 plantation. The tree begins to bear fruit at an early age, and the nuts, 

 which much resemble those of the English walnut, are much esteemed 

 by most persons. 



The white walnut, or butternut, furnishes a wood of similar texture, 

 light brown, fine-grained, and easilj' worked, but not so ornamental. 

 The walnuts do not transplant well, and therefore the nuts should be 

 planted where the trees arc to remain. From the seed they grow vig- 



