PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 295 



with green sand marl. That has a considerable percentage of 

 potash, and is one of the best natural fertilizing materials that 

 exists in this country. The green sand marl is an actual fertilizer; 

 this shell marl promotes fertility by its action as lime upoQ the 

 inert matter in the soil. 



The Ailanthus Tree. 



Wm. S. West, Platsmouth, Nebraska: Those who recommend 

 the ailanthus tree are surely unacquainted with it. Its flowers 

 are not handsome, its leaves come out too late in the spring, re- 

 semble the leaves of the sumac, larger, but not so handsome, stink 

 all summer, and drop off early in the fall, leaving the tree about 

 as beautiful as an old beanpole. Its roots extend to a great dis- 

 tance, and send up numerous sprouts, which are as difficult to 

 exterminate as the Canada thistle." 



Mr. Solon Robinson replied as follows: "It is you who are 

 unacquainted with the ailanthus, at least you do not state the facts 

 about its character. If its flowers are not handsome its seed pods 

 are really beautiful. Its foliage does not stink. It is a remark- 

 ably sweet, pleasant, handsome tree, free from worms or bad 

 odors, except during the blossoming season. Then, to some per- 

 sons, its odor is quite unpleasant. Do j^ou know, or will you learn 

 how to prevent the blossoming? Prune your trees to a mere 

 stump in autumn or spring. They will send out during the sum. 

 mer great bunches of sprouts, waving their long leaf stalks like 

 an immense ostrich plume, or rather like the head of the palm- 

 tree, which they will resemble. It will take these sprouts seve- 

 ral years to acquire age enough to produce blossoms. When they 

 do, prune again, and produce more young shoots. The limbs 

 which you prune oflf, properly seasoned, are valuable firewood. 

 The bodies furnish good lumber for cabinet-makers. They also 

 make durable timber when seasoned. The ailanthus is a quick- 

 growing, valuable tree for cities, where any other would perish 

 from bad usage. It might be profitabl}^ and extensively cultivated 

 upon western prairies. The man who says this is acquainted with 

 it, and knows whereof he speaks." 



Adjourned. 



