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The Common Ash (Fraximis excelsior) is a tall, quick-growing, ovated 

 tree, of a light, elegant, and often (when old) of a pendent form. It is 

 valuable in scenery, though wearing its summer dress for a very short period, 

 the shortest, perhaps, of all trees ; while its numerous and fibrous roots grow 

 so near the surface as to be highly injurious to pasturage or cultivated land : 

 it ought, therefore, to be sparingly introduced. Being a tall grower, it is 

 suited to occupy the centre of a group, of which oaks, wych elms, horse 

 chesnuts, &c, form the mass. Since it does not suffer materially from 

 exposure, it may advantageously be employed in bleak high grounds as a 

 means of shelter ; and as it thrives better in shallow soils than most other 

 trees, it is well adapted for planting in craggy or rocky places. 



" The Ash asks not a depth of fruitful mould, 

 But (like frugality) on little means 

 It thrives ; and high o'er creviced ruins spreads 

 Its ample shade, or on the naked rock 

 That nods in air, with graceful limbs depends." — Bidlake. 



The Beech, (Fagus sylvatica), for the first few years after being planted, 

 grows but slowly; but, when well established, becomes a lofty and noble 

 smooth-barked tree, stretching its gigantic arms far and wide, with their long 

 branches adorned with feathery spray. This is another of the class of trees 

 well calculated to form groups and masses of themselves ; but it may be 

 advantageously mixed with the purple and fern-leaved beech, the spruce fir, 

 and the birch, none of which, however, should be planted so near as to 

 interfere with the free spreading of its branches. If the purple beech be 

 introduced into a group, it should occupy, as nearly as possible, the centre 

 front, in order to avoid a one-sided effect, which, by its dark colour, it would 

 be likely to have were it otherwise placed. 



The Wych or Scotch Elm (Ulmus montana) is a quick-growing, round- 

 headed tree. While young it is rather ugly, but on attaining full growth it 

 proves one of the noblest and most elegant of trees. Its smooth majestic 

 limbs, clustered with drooping branches, and terminating in massive twigs, 

 produce an effect of light and shade so striking that the observer cannot but 

 admire. Its general appearance is so commanding, that while we admit the 

 old English oak to be " The King of the Forest," we are insensibly led to give 

 him in the Scotch ehn a partner worthy of his royal race, and crown it " The 



