Tree Study 



775 



lines; the bark smooths out on the lower branches. But even more 

 characteristic than the bark, are the ash branches and twigs; the latter are 

 sparse, coarse and clumsy, those of the white ash being pale orange or gray 

 and seemingly warped into curves at the ends; they are covered with 

 whitish gray dots, which reveal themselves under the lens to be breathing- 

 pores. 



The white ash loves to grow in rich woods or in rich soil anywhere, even 

 though it be shallow; at its best, it reaches the height of 130 feet, with a 

 trunk six feet through. Its foliage is peculiarly graceful; the leaves are 

 from eight to twelve inches long and are composed of from five to nine 

 leaflets. The leaflets have little petioles connecting them with the middle 

 stem ; in shape they are ovate with edges obscurely toothed or entire ; the 

 two basal leaflets are smaller than the others and the end one largest; in 

 texture, they are satiny, dark green above, whitish beneath, with feather- 

 like veins, often hairy on the lower side. The petioles are swollen at the 

 base. The leaves are set opposite upon the twig; except the horsechestnut, 

 the ashes are our only trees with compound leaves which have the leaves 

 opposite. This character alone readily distinguishes the ashes from the 

 hickories. The autumn foliage has a very peculiar color; the leaves are 

 dull purple above and pale yellow below ; this brings the sunshine color into 

 the shadowy parts of the tree, and gives a curious effect of no perspective. 

 Notwithstanding this, the autumn coloring is a joy to the artistic eye and is 

 very characteristic. 



The seeds of the ash are borne in crowded clusters; the delicate stem, 

 from three to five inches long, is branched into smaller stems to which are 

 joined two or three keys, and often several of these main stems come from 

 the same bud at the tip of last year's wood so that they seem crowded. 

 The seed is winged, the wing being 

 almost twice as long as the seed 

 set at its base. Thoreau says: 

 "The keys of the white ash cover 

 the trees profusely, a sort of mul- 

 berry brown, an inch and a half 

 long, and handsome." The seeds 

 cling persistently to the tree, 

 and I have often observed them 

 being blown over the surface of 

 the snow as if they were skating 

 to a planting place. 



The flowers appear in April or 

 May, before the leaves. The 

 pistillate flowers make an untidy 

 fringe, curling in every direction 

 around the twigs. The chief 

 flower stem is three to four inches 

 long, quite stout, pale green, and 

 from this arise short, fringed 

 stems, each carrying along its 

 sides the knobs on little stems 

 which are the pistillate flowers. 



Each tiny flower seems to be Bole of white ash showing the beautiful bark. 

 bristling with individuality, stand- Photo by Ralph Curtis. 



