January 1904.] Tests of Forest Trees. 91 



Diameter Diameter 



Age. at base. at five ft. 



30 years 13 inches 11^ inches. 



29 " 11 " 10 " 



^lO . . . . . . . . . ... . It/A t/2 



29 " llf " 11J " 



30 " 16 " 13i " 



22 " 7 " 5J " 



21 " 7 " 6 " 



two forks... 6 " 5 " 



I at ground 6 " 



24 " 6 " 5J " 



23 " 9 " 6 " 



24 " ' 9J- " 8 " 



The Osage orange has been readily propagated from seed. In one 

 test in securing seed two methods used have given practically the 

 same stand of plants, One lot of the fleshy fruit was put in a barrel, 

 covered with water, and early in the spring the seed was readily 

 washed from the softened pulp and planted immediately. 



The other lot was dried through the winter and in the spring the 

 seeds were secured by pounding the dry fruits into pieces with a 

 hammer. The washing was the easier method. 



AILANTHUS (TREE OF HEAVEN). (Ailanthus glandulosa.) 



From the report of 1886. 



" The ailanthus grove, on the highest ground, is now a thicket of all sizes, down 

 to last year's sprouts. The trees have not been thinned out, and were evidently 

 planted at about 4x5 feet, though the rows are filled up by sprouts, some of 

 which are nearly as large as the original seedlings. The trees selected as the 

 oldest in the grove averaged 18 feet high and have a girth at four feet of 11 

 inches. On the outskirts of the grove occasional trees have twice this circum- 

 ference." 



The ailanthus does not seem likely to form trees of any consider- 

 able size. It grows rapidly for a few years, but later seems much less 

 vigorous. They have frequently been severely injured by cold. Dur- 

 ing the severe winter of 1898-'99 numbers of the trees were killed to 

 the ground, and all were severely injured. The trees possess con- 

 siderable recuperative power and have usually formed new tops in a 

 short time. The killing back has been followed by excessive sprout- 

 ing, thickets of young trees being formed. As grown here, the wood 

 is of low fuel value and almost worthless for other purposes. 



Upon the College campus the ailanthus has been sparingly planted. 

 The best specimens, now about twenty years old, measure 32 feet in 

 height, with a diameter at the base of llf inches ; at five feet, 8 inches. 



For ornamental purposes, the most satisfactory results are secured 

 by cutting back frequently, the strong growth secured having a rich, 



