PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



69 



very wet lands it becomes greatly enlarged at the base, some such 

 trees measuring 30 feet in girth at the ground, but rapidly contracting, 

 so that at 20 feet they diminish one-half to two-thirds in bulk. These 

 "swell-butt ashes" are said to decay lirst at the top, and to be sometimes 

 solid at the base. Following is a list of measurements of large trees of 

 this species: 



Tree marked c was 9 feet in circumference at the small end of the 

 trunk, which was perfectly solid throughout; d was 7^ teet in girth at 

 the small end; j was a prostrate tree with the top totally destroyed, 

 t)ut at 100 feet from the base were six branches averaging nearly 1 foot 

 in diameter, so that it could not have been much less than 140 leet long. 



41. (154.) Fraxinus imhescens. Red Ash. 

 Rather rare. No measurements. 



42. (155. j Fraxinus samhucifolia. "Black Ash"; "Hoop Ash." 



" Swamps and wet places; not rare." (Schneck.) Abundant in the 

 northern portion of Monteur's Pond, Knox County, Indiana, where it 

 grows tall and slender, frequently 80 and occasionally nearly or quite 

 100 feet high, the only specimen measured being 83 feet long, trunk 57 

 feet, diameter (at 5 feet from the ground — the base being considerably 

 swollen), li feet. This tree presents so very close a resemblance in 

 bark, foliage, and general aspect to young Pecan trees {Garya olivcefor- 

 mis), as to be not readily distinguished, except by experts. 



43. (158.) Fraxinus quadrangulata. Blue Ash. 



Common in rich hilly woods; resembles in general appearance F. 

 amerlcana, but is smaller and more slender. Four freshly cut trees, 

 felled on a space including not more than two acres, were 2 to 2^ feet 

 iu diameter (across top of stump), 51 to 70 feet clear trunk, and 116 to 

 124 feet long. A fine tree still standing on the same piece of ground 

 was 13 feet in girth, and at least 50 feet to the first limb. 



