46 TREE-PLANTING. 



in a dry summer, and feel the influence of modified 

 moisture. If its roots touch a wet or sour soil its 

 progress of growth becomes arrested ; on reaching a 

 poor subsoil the wood becomes brittle, while continuous 

 and uninterrupted growth under the most favourable 

 circumstances develops hard and durable timber ; 

 the properties which mark the ash in perfection 

 strength, toughness, and elasticity being only ob- 

 tainable when they are the result of a free and 

 unimpeded growth. 



As a hedgerow tree the ash is a very bad one to 

 have on the land, as it makes a barren circle wherever 

 it stands, while no deciduous tree can be made so 

 valuable on the slopes of mountainous districts, where 

 it can have shelter. High positions it does not object 

 to, so that it is not exposed to bleak winds. 



A well-grown tree of the tall, or common, ash 

 takes rank with the best trees near the oak ; and as a 

 landscape decoration it is one of the handsomest 

 trees, there being no harsh or rigid outlines to mar 

 its symmetrical appearance, what it lacks in grandeur 

 and imposing aspect, being amply made up in grace- 

 fulness, bending and swaying to the breeze whenever 

 agitated by the wind. 



The best times for planting the ash is in October, 

 November, March, and April. Where the land is wet 

 it should be drained, for no tree is so much injured 

 by stagnant water, and the situation should be care- 

 fully chosen, so that they rise in masses by themselves, 

 and not be interfered with by any other tree. The ash 

 being a loose-headed, open kind of tree, they do not 

 interfere with one another during their early growth 

 when planted in masses, and consequently they get 



