310 The yoiii'iial of Forestry. 



those who are now so ably and efliciently imparting il; but to aid 

 them in their praiseworthy efforts, and complete the work they liave 

 so well begun, the institution of a National Forest School is a neces- 

 sity that cannot much longer be delayed, and which we trust to see 

 carried into effect by the proper authorities within a reasonably short 

 time. 



The genus FraAna^, or Ash, is composed of deciduous trees which 

 are natives of luirope, a considerable part of Asia, Northern Africa, 

 and North America. They are raised from seeds collected in the 

 autumn and sown in the following spring, and the varieties are pro- 

 pagated by grafting on the common ash, i^'/v^r/y/^/s cxcchwr. The Ash 

 has a great tendency to run into numerous varieties, which so closely 

 resemble each other that much confusion has ensued, and for all 

 practical purposes very fev/ of them are worth notice. 



The Common Ash is the only species which is found profitable for 

 cultivating in this country ; but the most important representative of 

 the genus in America is the White Ash [F. AmeriaciiK), for which, as 

 stated in another paragraph, handsome premiums are now being 

 offered to promote and extend its cultivation in the United States. 

 For general usefulness in the arts and constructive economy it is sur- 

 passed by no tree, except, perhaps, the oak. From the rapidity of its 

 growth, the graceful beauty of its foliage, and the valuable qualities 

 of its timber, it is one of the most popular and interesting of American 

 trees. In favourable situations it attains a height of eighty feet or 

 more, with a trunk three feet in diameter, and often presenting a clean 

 straight bole for more than half its length. It grows best in a deep, 

 rich soil, near the edges of streams or swamps, but free from stagnant 

 water, its roots delighting in a deep, fertile, moist soil, intermingled 

 with stones, and having a porous subsoil. It is a native of North 

 America, from Labrador to the Carolinas, and is particularly abundant 

 where the climate is moderately cool and moist. It is a robust, healthy, 

 and quick-growing tree in such localities, and is little liable to damage 

 from storms, or to be attacked by insects. The wood of the white 

 ash, in young thrifty trees, is very white throughout, but in large old 

 trees the heartwood assumes a reddish tinge, the sapwood only being 

 very white. In free-grown trees, in which the annual layers of wood 

 are large or thick, the timber is found to be exceedingly tough and 

 elastic, and may be applied to a great variety of useful purposes. It 

 is employed by coach, Avaggon, and cart makers for the felloes of wheels, 

 for shafts, and for the frames of carriages, &c. It is used almost univer- 

 sally in the eastern States, and in others where it can be had, for the 



