CHAPTER SEVEN 



THE ASH 





THE ash belongs to 

 the olive family. It is 

 common in the wild 

 state and is often 

 planted for shade ; yet 

 many persons fail to 

 recognize ash trees 

 when they see them. 

 The leaves of the ash 

 are large and compound 

 and bear some resem- 

 blance to the leaves of 

 the walnut and hick- 

 ory, but the leaves of 

 these latter trees are 

 arranged alternately on 

 the branchlets, while 

 those of the ash are opposite. Since young branches 

 come from buds at the bases of leaves, the branches of 

 the ash are also opposite, while those of the walnut 

 and hickory are alternate. The fruit of the ash is 

 winged and identifies the tree at once (Fig. 30). 



To support the long and heavy leaves of the ash 

 the branchlets must be large and strong. This 

 gives to the ash in winter a stiff and naked appear- 

 ance, very different from the graceful elm with its 

 many slender, drooping twigs. . The bark on the 

 branches of most kinds of ash is somewhat tinged 

 with red. 



51 



FIG. 30. Leaves and fruit of the white ash. 



