( I" ) 



horizontal appearance, which they generally 

 aflume. 



The fpray of the afh is very different. As, 

 the boughs of the afh are lefs complex, fo is 

 it's fpray. Inftead of the thick, intermingled 

 bufhinefs, which the fpray of the oak exhibits ; 

 that of the afh is much more fimple, running 

 in a kind of irregular parallels. The main 

 ftem holds it's courfe, forming at the fame 

 time a beautiful fweep : but the fpray does 

 not divide like that of the oak, from the 

 extremity of the laft year's moot ; but fprings 

 from the fides of it. Two fhoots fpring out, 

 oppofite to each other-; and each pair in a con- 

 trary direction. Rarely however both the 

 fhoots of either fide come to maturity ; one of 

 them is commonly loft, as the tree increafes ; 

 or at leaft makes no appearance in comparifon 

 with the other, which takes the lead. So 

 that, notwithstanding this natural regularity 

 of growth, (fo injurious to the beauty of the 

 fpruce fir, and fome other trees,) the afh 

 never contracts the leaft difgufting formality 

 from it. It may even receive great pi6hi- 

 refque beauty : for fometimes the whole branch 



is 



