THE ASH AND ITS CULTIVATION. 129 



is that the ash has a much stronger tendency to forked growth 

 than is characteristic of any other of our forest trees. When 

 planted on fresh, breezy uplands, however, its lateness in bursting 

 into leaf usually affords a fair protection against spring frosts. 

 When once clear of the danger from frost it soon shoots up in 

 growth. The energy of growth in height continues lively up to 

 about the fortieth or fiftieth year, and in the following twenty 

 years it develops considerable increment in girth. It often 

 reaches maturity between the age of sixty to eighty years, and 

 after this is attained it is no longer economical to allow trees to 

 stand. When grown in the close canopy of mixed timber crops, 

 and not in any more isolated position, its financial maturity is 

 not infrequently delayed until between the age of eighty to one 

 hundred years. 



The leading sylvicultural characteristics of the ash are its in- 

 herent demand for light and air, often coupled with inability to 

 endure shade, and its heavy requirements in respect of mineral 

 strength and of moisture in the soil. On the whole, it must be 

 considered one of the most exacting of our forest trees. To attain 

 its best development it should, if possible, be planted on a fresh, 

 deep, light, loa ny soil. On dry, light sand, or stiff, heavy clay, 

 it not only develops indifferently, but also soon begins to show 

 signs of premature exhaustion of vital energy, through the soil 

 being unable to supply its normal requirements as to mineral 

 food and moisture. Its root-system is both deep and broad, 

 though ash will thrive well on soils, otherwise suitable, which are 

 hardly deep enough to permit the oak to attain its finest develop- 

 ment. Fortunately for its cultivation, the ash can often, during 

 the earlier stages of growth, thrive under standards having light 

 canopy and thus protecting it from frost; but later on, and 

 especially as it approaches maturity, it becomes intolerant even 

 of shade from the side tending to interfere with the impulse it 

 then manifests strongly towards lateral extension of its crown of 

 foliage. Owing to its strong demand for light, and its inability 

 to protect the soil adequately against deterioration through the 

 action of sun and wind, ash is unsuited for the formation of pure 

 forests or even for forming large groups or clumps produced either 

 artificially or from suckers and stool-shoots, except, perhaps, 

 where ash-beds are exceptionally profitable through local demand 

 for hop-poles and the like. Even on moist, low-lying situations 

 specially favourable for its growth, it thrives best when grown 



