158 
AILANTUS GLANDULOSA. 
if they are to be transported any great distance, they may be sown in boxes of 
light earth, or sand and peat, protected under glass. It will grow in any soil, 
though one that is light and somewhat humid, and in a sheltered situation, is 
considered the best. In France, it is said to thrive on chalky soils, and attain a 
large size, where scarcely any other tree will prosper. It grows with great rapid- 
ity for the first ten or twelve years, producing annual shoots from three to six feet 
in length, and under favourable circumstances, it often attains a height of fifteen 
or twenty feet in five or six years. Afterwards, its growth is much slower, 
which renders it very valuable as a shade-tree, in situations of limited space ; 
although there is the disadvantage of the unpleasant odour of its flowers. The 
leaves are not liable to be attacked by insects, which is a very great desidera- 
tum, and as we before remarked, they continue on the tree, and retain their 
verdure till the coming of the autumnal frosts, when the leaflets drop suddenly 
off and often leave the petioles on the tree some weeks longer. 
Properties and Uses. The wood of this species is very hard, compact, of a 
deep-red colour, when old, resembling newly-wrought mahogany, and is often 
beautifully veined with deep-gold colour and red. It is susceptible of the finest 
polish, and has a fine, satin-like lustre, which renders it well suited for the pur- 
poses of cabinet-making. From its capability of being raised on meagre and 
worn-out soils, and the rapidity of its growth, it is thought that this tree might 
be profitably cultivated for cabinet-wood, or to be treated as a coppice, to be cut 
every third year for fuel. In France and Italy, it is much valued for shading 
public walks, and is planted for that purpose along with the American tulip-tree, 
(Liriodendron,) the horse-chesnut, the oriental plane, and other large-leaved exotic 
trees. It also graces lawns and avenues in various parts of the United States, 
and succeeds equally well as in its native country. 
