The Mountain- Ash. 53 



are graceful from first to last, never growing out of 

 shape, and to touch which with the pruning-knife would 

 only be to spoil. While young the growth is rapid. 

 Hence in plantations it becomes an admirable nurse-tree 

 for young oaks and other saplings of deliberate temper, 

 quietly submitting, when it has done its work, to be over- 

 topped, and even to be destroyed, by the shade and 

 drip of its foster-children. The mountain-ash specially 

 deserves to be planted also where the harbouring of 

 singing-birds is an object. It is one of the trees, again, 

 not many, which have two distinct festal seasons. In 

 May and June the light green of the beautiful foliage is 

 set off by cream-coloured bloom, more than exuberant. 

 Then for a time it is unattractive, and we almost forget 

 it. In September it again becomes conspicuous, but now 

 with glory of fruitage, first of a rich orange colour, when 

 ripe lucid vermilion, such as attracts the most indifferent 



and incurious 



"The mountain-ash, 



No eye can overlook, when, mid a grove 

 Of yet unfaded trees, she lifts her head 

 Deck'd with autumnal berries, that outshine 

 Spring's richest blossoms." 



In the wild state the Rowan occurs throughout Europe 

 and Russian Asia, though unable in high latitudes to 

 become more than a shrub. The northern habitation at 

 once suggests the meaning of the latter name. Rowan 

 being connected etymologically with the Scandinavian 

 runa, a spell or charm. The fame of the tree in ancient 

 witchcraft is well known ; it is not dissipated, in truth, 



