92 Horticultural Department. [Bulletin 120 



tropical appearance. A growth of eight or ten feet is often made 

 during one season. A seedling on the campus measured at three 

 years 18 feet in height ; diameter at the base, 4J inches ; at five feet 

 2J inches. 



The ailanthus has been readily propagated from seeds and sprouts. 



WHITE OR SOFT MAPLE. (Acer saccharinum.) 



From the report of 1886. 



"The White or Soft maple is growing upon about as high ground as the plan- 

 tation affords, but, owing to the mutual protection of the closely planted trees, 

 this grove on a sterile southern slope shows an excellent growth. The trees stood 

 originally about four feet apart each way, but were thinned four years ago to 

 eight feet apart. They stand over 30 feet high, with straight, unbranched 

 trunks, and show an average girth of over 15 inches at four feet from the 

 ground. At least 95 per cent, of the trees would furnish straight poles over 

 twenty feet long." 



The later growth of the Soft maple trees in this plantation has not 

 been so pleasing. The rate of growth has been much slower. Few 

 of the trees have attained the height of 40 feet. The best trees 

 have a diameter of 10 inches at 4 feet from the ground. Many 

 trees of the original planting have died and more are making a feeble 

 growth. The Soft maples have produced a greater amount of cord- 

 wood than any other species in this planting, and while the wood is 

 not as good fuel as the ash or Osage orange, or even the walnut, the 

 greater amount produced has much more than compensated for the 

 lower fuel value. The growth of sprouts from the stumps has been 

 much more vigorous when the trees have been in a vigorous state of 

 growth than where the tree has become feeble before being cut. 



Grown upon the campus as a shade and ornamental tree, the Soft 

 maple has been satisfactory. As the trees age the wood seems to be- 

 come more brittle and the branches are frequently broken by winds 

 that do no damage to trees of other species. On rich soil the trees 

 give promise of attaining a considerable age, but on high, dry land 

 they seem to be short-lived. 



The following measurements, taken as averages of trees of various 

 ages, growing in different locations, will give an idea of the rate of 

 growth. Trees nineteen years old, grown in good, rich soil, gave 

 following average measurements : 



Height 41 ft.6in. 



Diameter at base 11? inches. 



" at 5 feet 11 



atlOfeet 7 



Amount of cord- wood in branches, 15 cubic feet. 



