164 AGEICULTURAL REPORT. 



It is also good for fuel. In France and Southern Europe it grows to a 

 large size on chalky soils where few other trees would live. It has been 

 largely planted on the plains of Southern Eussia, to fix the loose, blow- 

 ing sands. North of latitude 40c» it will probably be too tender for 

 profitable culture. It is easily propagated, either from seeds, suckers, 

 or root-cuttings. 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 

 ornamental 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 imx)lements, for 

 carriages, and furniture, it is becoming scarce, and its cultivation 

 promises to be very remunerative at an early day. The white ash 

 becoii '^'=5 one of our largest forest-trees, attaining the height of 70 or 

 80 feeu, 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, pitchfork and rake handles, and for 

 wagon-shafts. Emerson relates that an ash-tree in Granville, Massa- 

 chusetts, was rived into 3,000 rake-handles. It was 4^ feet in diameter, 

 and had a shaft of 70 feet without a limb. The white ash requh'es a 

 deep, moist soil, for its greatest perfection. Most prairie soils are well 

 adapted to its growth. It bears transplanting well, and is remarkably 

 exempt from the attacks of insects. The blue ash occurs in the bot- 

 tom-lands 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 Avhen 

 exposed to the weather, as for fence-posts, stakes, and rails. This spe- 

 cies has a southern, and the white ash a northern range. 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 icalniits. — The black walnut is a timber of so much 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 resemble those of the English walnut, are much esteemed by most 

 l^ersons. 



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

 light brown, fine-grained, and easily worked, but not so ornamental as 

 the precediug. The walnuts do not transplant well, and, therefore, the 

 nuts should be planted where the trees are to remain. From the 

 seed they grow vigorously, especially the white walnut, which almost 

 equals the soft maple in thrift. 



The American chestnut. — This is one of the finest in appearance, and 

 one of the most useful, both for the value of its timber, and for its valua- 

 ble fruit, of our native trees. The difficulty of transplanting the young 

 trees has hindered its cultivation. It is found chiefly in hilly and 

 mountainous districts, and for successful cultivation should at least have 

 a dry, weU-drained subsoil. Mr. Preston, of Mount Carroll, Illinois, says : 



It lias been generally snpiiosed. that tbe diestunt could not he successfully raised 

 upon our prairies. But mj' experience; and that of others, proves it to be a mistake. 

 I have them seventeen years old, and bearing nuts, and some of the trees are 12 inches 

 in diameter. They grow faster than the butternut, vrhich I also have of about the 

 same age. I have never succeeded in transplanting the chestnut, while I have trans- 

 planted the butternut, with a loss not to exceed 2 per cent. 



