440 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



the cultivated Mountain Ash of Europe, P. aucuparia, when 

 planted about houses, remains on during the winter, is of a dark 

 reddish or scarlet color. 



It has a strong resemblance to the imported mountain ash, 

 but may be distinguished by its leaves and their petiole being 

 more smooth, the bark darker, and its habit more slender. Its 

 fruit, also, is of a darker color. When cultivated in England, it 

 assumes a more robust appearance than the European moun- 

 tain ash, so that its slender form, when growing wild, might be 

 thought to be owing to its being drawn up by being surrounded 

 by other trees. It has, however, the same delicate shape when 

 exposed to the winds on the north side of the Wachusett. 



From the resemblance to the European tree, so great that 

 Michaux supposed it might be a variety, it is probable that its 

 cultivation should be the same. 



That tree is commonly raised, in England, where it is much 

 cultivated as an ornamental tree, from the seed, which is gath- 

 ered as soon as ripe, macerated in water till the seeds are sepa- 

 rated from the pulp, and then may be immediately sown. They 

 will, in that case, remain eighteen months in the ground before 

 coming up. It is common, therefore, to mix the berries with 

 light, sandy soil, and spread them in a layer, of ten or twelve 

 inches in thickness, in the rotting ground, covering the layer 

 with two or three inches of sand or ashes, and allowing them to 

 remain in that state a year. They are then separated from the 

 soil by sifting, and sown in beds of light, rich soil, being cov- 

 ered a quarter of an inch. This should be done as late as pos- 

 sible in the fall. They will come up in June, and by the end 

 of the season some of the plants will be eighteen inches high, 

 and ready to transplant to the nursery. The seeds should be 

 not less than two inches apart. — Loudon, Arb., 920. 



The European Mountain Ash is commonly known in Eng- 

 land by the name of Rowan or Roan Tree, and, in some dis- 

 tricts, Witchen ; and has long been considered of sovereign 

 power against witches and evil spirits, and all their fascinations 

 and spells. For this purpose, it was made into walking-sticks, 

 or branches of it were hung about the house or about stables 



