New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-26
A TREE FOR TASTE PLACES.

The Ailantns is deservedy in bad repute as
a tree for city planting. 1t certainly does not
lack beauty, especially at this tire OF year.
With a vell-expanded head its long compound
leaves reaching boldly outward, the soft green
of its foliage contrasting pleasantly with the
rich bronze of its cd-custcrs 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 ali for il 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
habtations-ou;side of long smelling range at
the nearest And now just as the effort to ban
ish It fr0u town streets and country uOOr-
wards has become unanimous and determined,
the value of the Ailantus as tree l0r eco
nomic planting is gaining wide recognition. IL
has been grown in this country for nearly a
hundred wears, and it was brought from China
to Europe in the middle OF the last century,
But a foreign tree needs long time to estab-
lish a reputation. and therefore it is not sur
prising that 1t has never been brought into
which furnish orr fuel and timber supply.
Experiments in France have demonstrated
that the wood of the Ailantus grown in that
country is stronger and more flexible than
either the European oak or the European elD
Grown here it is heavier than black walnut or
ordinary mahogany. and only per cent lighter
than the best white oak to which wood in struc-
tire il bears n close resemblance Its light am
Der color, the satiny polish which 1t Will take,
the ease with which it can be worked, the fact
that it seasons without Wrapping or checking,
all commend it for interior finish and cabinet
work That it is durable wood has not been
proved. Its structure would seem to indicate
that it il, and il so its hardness and strength
will render it particularly useful for railway
ties. Estimated by their comparative specific
gravities, its fuel value is almost as great as
that of white oak, and "actual experiments
show that it burns without Swapping, stead
ily and slowly giving ont a clear bright flame
and leaving a.good bed of Goals"
There are trees in orr forests which are more
generally useful to the cabinet maker, and others
which excel it in heat producing qualities,
but none of these viii compare with the Allan
tus in rapidity of growth. Even the poplar
Lays behind it in its swift development.
Besides this it will flourish soils where
weeds will barely live 1t is not to be assumed
that trees grown on gravel beds or drifting
sands will produce wood a. valuable us that
of the same species grown on garden soil.
But the Ailantus seems to endure inhOSptable
treatment more kindly than any other tree
The sands of the sca-cOast are not coo barren tor
Its searching roots and thousands OF waste
acres would soon yield Il rich reward if planted
with this hardy, useful tree.
Here there is specific field toward which
the growing interest in economic forestry can
safely direct itself. Contracts to plant thou
sand acres in any of the Eastern States will be
taken by the great firm of Western nursery
men who grow fOrest-trees by the million,
and doubtless also by any OF our great nurs-
cries much nearer New York. The man who
covers a sandy waste with thriving forest
growth will add to his own as well rs to the
Nations wealth.