DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 207 
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trees die, and | think that we ought to emphasize its real merit. 
Our native green ash sends its roots straight down into the soil 
to find the moisture, and in consequence it is a hardy and beau- 
tiful tree. Our people have learned by experimentation the 
real value of the tree,and the demand is increasing for the ash. 
Mr. Ludlow: Irise for information. I have some ash trees 
that have been growing eight years; that is, I transplanted 
them eight years ago, and to-day some of them are not more 
than two inches in diameter. They grew crooked, something 
liké the’ Early Strawberry apple tree grows. The limbs in 
starting out grew straight out and then dropped down, and I 
thought it was better as an ornamental tree than anything else. 
Now, six years ago last spring, some seed dropped in the yard 
next to mine and an ash treecameup. I have trimmed it twice, 
and noticed that it is not the same shape as the others. The 
bark is of a lighter color than the ones I first spoke of, which 
were greenish looking. 
Vice-President Wedge: Perhaps it is the black ash. That 
has a greenish looking limb and the smaller branches are 
smooth. It also grows slowly. 
Judge Moyer: Ihave no doubt but that these trees are all 
green ash. Prof. Archer, in his report on the botany of Iowa. 
says that nearly all the ash trees in Iowa are green. The same 
is true of western Minnesota. I will say that I have observed. 
that ash trees which grow from the seed are better and straight- 
er than those that have been transplanted, and I think the same 
is true of the box elder. 
Mr. Harris: I know that the black ash will not do very well 
on dry ground. 
Vice-President Wedge: No. They grow very slowly indeed. 
Mr. Harris: The white ash, where it grows in a sunny lati- 
tude, is considered to be a more valuable tree than any other 
ash. I believe the green ash is considered to be next to it. 
We know that on this soil it grows very rapidly, and soon be- 
comes a large thrifty tree. There is no doubt but that it will 
soon become the most valuable tree, that we can plantas a farm 
tree. If we get too much of it we can use it for fire wood, and 
to repair our tools with, for the trunks of these trees make 
pretty tough timber. I have some trees on my place now that 
would make good fork handles or rake handles. That kind of 
timber you will always find valuable, but of course, to get such 
timber you must have it planted on rich soil. 
