Smyrna times., 1882-08-09
A Tree for Waste Places.

repute as a tree for city planting. 1t
does not lack beauty, cspe-
cially at this time of year. With a
head, its long compound
leaves reaching boldly outward, the
soft green of its foliage contrasting
with the rich bronze of its
seed-clusters and the tawny gold of its
new wood, it is a striking tree in any |
company. But the display of all these
graces cannot atone for the sickening
odor with which its blossoms load the
air for a few days in early July, and
life is not worth living where its pollen
falls. Perhaps this annoyance could be
remedied, and the subject has been
already discussed in these columns.
The safe course, however, is to plant
the tree apart from human habitatiOns
outside of long smelling range at the
nearest. And now just as the effort to
Danish it from town streets and country
door-yards has become unanimous and
uclcIullHcui lllC NdluC VI lllC AlldltuS
as tree for economic planting is gain
ing wide recognition. 1t has been
grown in this country for nearly a
hundred years, and it was brought
from China to Europe in the middle of
the last century. But foreign tree
needs long time to establish reputa-
ton, and therefore it is not surprising
that it has never been brought into
active competition with the native
woods which furnish our fuel and
timber supply.
Experiments in France have demon
strated that the wood of the Ailantus
grown in that country is stronger and
more flexible than either the European
oak or the European elm. Grown
here it is heavier than black walnut OIL
ordinary mahogany, and only Z pei
cent lighter than the best white oak, tC
which wood in structure it bears ;
close resemblance. Its light ambe
, color, the satiny polish which it vii
take, the case with which it can b.
worked, the fact that it seasons with
out warping or checking, all commend
it for interior finish and cabinent work
That it is a durable wood has not bee
I proved. Its structure would seem t
indicate that it is, and if so its hardnes
o and strength will render it particular
!. useful for railway ties. Estimated b
t their comparative specific gravities, il
= fuel value is almost as great as that {
d white oak, and "actual experiment
O show that it burns without snappini
e steadily and slowly giving out clei
l. bright flame and leaving a good bed
g GOALS"
if There are trees in our forests whiC
it are more generally useful to the cabin
D. maker, and others which excel it
le heat producing qualities, but none
O. these will compare with the Ailant
Or in rapidity of growth. Even the pO
Or lar lags behind it in its swift develO
at ment. Besides this it will flourish
~ soils where weeds will barely live.
is not to be assumed that trees grow
re on gravel beds or drifting sands W
tn produce wood as valuable as that of t
h. same species grown on garden sc
uo But the Ailantus seems to endu
a. inhospitable treatment more kinC
OK than any other tree. The sands of
be sea-coast are not too barren for
of searching roots, and thousands ofwa
ad acres would soon yield a rich rewa
+th if planted with this hardy, useful tr
nm Here there is a specific field tows
els which the growing interest in ecOnor
ith forestry can safely direct itself c.
mo tracts to plant thousand acres in q
he of the Eastern States will be taken
od- the great firm of Western nurseryn
ple who grow forest-trees by the milli
INC and doubtless also by any of our gr
nurseries much nearer New YO
lox The man who covers a sandy Wa
to with a thriving forest growth will ;
old to his own as well as to the Matte
ION wealth.-N Y. Tribune.