80 



WINDBREAKS. 



GREEN ASH. 



Green ash is one of the slowest growing trees planted in the Middle 

 West, but because of the high value of the wood, and of the ability 

 of the trees to resist drought, it has been considerably used in wind- 

 breaks, especially in Nebraska. The tree grows better on upland 

 situations than any others except osage orange and honey locust, 

 and has in some instances survived drought which was fatal to almost 

 every other kind of tree. The wood of green ash compares favorably 

 in strength with that of the other ashes of the eastern hardwood 

 forests, but the plantations in the West have not yet begun to yield 

 saw timber. Green ash is one of the most useful trees of the western 

 woodlot, for farm repairs, but has so far been principally used for 

 fence posts. Quartered posts are strong and durable if well seasoned, 

 but they are less durable than^osage orange, black locust, mulberry, 

 or catalpa. 



Green ash loses its lower branches at an early age, and the foliage 

 is not dense enough to form a barrier to the wind except as the tree 

 is planted in wide belts or groves. 'As it is essentially a forest tree, 

 it will be found to yield the best returns when planted rather closely 

 in groves. It is a good auxiliary to cottonwood, either for under- 

 planting or side planting, since its slow growth leaves it much below 

 the cottonwood and permits it to fill up the openings left by the death 

 of the cottonwood limbs. Ash grows moderately well in the partial 

 light under cottonwood, but its roots are not so deep as might be 

 desired for a tree in this position. 



Table 18 gives the value of ash posts. The measurements have all 

 been made in the interior of belts and groves. 



TABLE 18. Green ash estimates posts. 



The following points are brought out by Table 18: (1) The highest 

 annual returns from posts will be obtained from green ash at the end 

 of about 25 years, after which the growth will not keep pace with tLw 

 increasing interest. (2) Ash posts of the best quality can be obtaine 

 only at a much greater age, and this indicates that a longer rotation i 



