198 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



the red, for its general height is only thirty 

 or forty feet. It has its name from the bril- 

 liant green of its leaves, and from their upper 

 and under sides being both of the same colour, 

 which is very seldom the case in trees. The 

 seeds are quite small, not half as large as 

 those of the white, but of the same shape. 

 The wood is of very good quality, but not so 

 much used as the other kinds, from its being 

 so much smaller. 



" The black ash, like the white, loves a 

 cold climate, and is found in greatest abun- 

 dance in Canada, and the most northern parts 

 of the United States : in size, too, it is like the 

 white ash ; but the leaves are smaller, and 

 of a deeper green ; on the under side they are 

 covered with red down : the seeds are shorter 

 and are flat throughout their whole length: this 

 kind has its name from the colour of the bark 

 which is much darker than any of the others. 

 The wood is brown, very tough, and more 

 elastic or springy than the white ; but it does 

 not last as long, and is much less used in car- 

 penters' work : in Maine it is chiefly employed 

 for making hoops and potashes : it is some- 

 times found handsomely mottled and veined, 

 and is made up into furniture. But it is not 



