THE ASH AND THE LARCH. 439 



The White Ash is somewhat variable in its characteristics, and some of these 

 yariations have formerly been named and described by botanists as permanent 

 varieties, or even species. It belongs to northern latitudes, and only obtains its 

 fullest developments in colder climates than that of Northern Illinois. The Blue 

 Ash abounds in more southern latitudes than the White; it is in every respect 

 f.s valuable, and has the advantage of being more durable. The combination 

 of strength, lightness and elasticity in Ash timber renders it superior to any 

 other native wood for many purposes, and the demand for it must always be 

 extensive. 



Much has been said and written in praise of the Euroj^ean Larch, but never- 

 theless, little if any notice has been taken of its peculiar fitness for railroad 

 ties. No way of making a railroad track has been found to answer the purpose 

 so well as that of laying the rails upon cross timbers; consequently, while rail- 

 roads exist the demand for ties must be very great. In Great Britain the 

 Larch is used for that purpose in preference to any other wood. The shape of 

 the tree renders it peculiarly fit for ties, — when closely grown, it is tall, straight, 

 destitute of large branches, and tapering very gradually from the base. The 

 ■wood, beside being very durable, is solid, giving a firm hold to spikes. Another 

 advantage is the much greater quantity of timber which may be obtained from 

 any given number of acres of Larch than of most other trees. If we may 

 believe English writers, ten acres of Larch will afford as great a quantity of 

 ship timber, as seventy-five acres of Oak. Larch can be grown more thickly 

 than Oak, and does not divide at the top into large branches; conseqnently, a 

 greater portion of the tree is available for use. The writer has Larch trees 

 which, being thickly grown, have, in fifteen years, attained the height of fifty 

 feet, with a diameter of from eight to twelve inches. The European Larch 

 should never be planted upon wet land. 



The American Larch has been eulogized as fully equal to the European in 

 durability. Michaux describes it as possessing the same properties. In the 

 British provinces, north of the St. Lawrence, and in Newfoundland, where it is 

 highly esteemed, it grows upon uplands, forming large masses of forest. In 

 the United States it is found only in swamps, — never on upland, — a fact; which 

 Michaux regards as evidence that the climate of the northern limits of the 

 United States is too mild for its constitution. From all the testimony the 

 writer has been able to collect from those who have used it, it appears that 

 when grown in swamps, in the United States, it is by no means remarkably 

 durable. Whether this is owing to soil or climate, is a matter of uncertainty. 

 The European Larch is found principally in the central and southern parts of 

 Europe, and is therefore better suited to the climate of Northern Illinois than 

 the American species, which reaches perfection only in a much colder climate, 

 and is, likewise, of slower growth. 



It may not be improper here to notice recently published opinions of men of 

 note in regard to one or two subjects which, although not strictly belonging 

 to timber-planting, are often discussed in connection with it : 



Mr. Thomas Meehan, in an article published in the New York Tribune, and 

 copied into the Prairie Farmer, criticises a paper read by Prof. Hough, before 

 the American Associat'on, and takes the ground that trees do not affect cli- 

 mate. He also asserts that the crops with which the farmer covers the soil are 

 a full compensation for the absence of forests as far as the retention of moist- 

 ure is concerned. In a notice of the report of the Agricultural Department, 



