

WHITE ASH 



{Fraj:inus amcricana L.) 

 THE white ash is common in the northern half of 

 tho State and grows to best advantage in the 

 rich moist soils of mountain coves and river bottom- 

 lands. It reaches an average height of 50 to 80 feet 

 and a diameter of 2 to 3 feet, though much larger 

 trees are found in virgin forest. The bark varies in 

 color from a light gray to a gray-brown. The rather 



WHITE ASH 

 Twig, one-half natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. 



narrow ridges are separated with marked regularity 

 by deep, diamond-shaped fissures. 



The leaves of the white ash are from 8 to 12 inches 

 long and iiave from 5 to 9 plainly stalked, sharp- 

 pointed leaflets, dark green and smooth above, pale 

 green beneath. The ashes form the only group of 

 trees in eastern America that have opposite, com- 

 pound leaves with 5 or more leaflets. This fact in 

 it.self provides a ready means of identifying the 

 group. The flowers are of two kinds on different 

 trees, the male in dense reddish purple clusters and 

 the female in more open bunches. Tlie fruit of the 

 ash is winged, 1 to \Y> inches long, resembling the 

 blade of a canoe paddle in outline, with the seed at 

 the handle end. Tlie fruits mature in late summer 

 and are distributed etTectively by tlie winds. 



The wood of the white ash is extremely valuable 

 on account of its toughness and elasticity. It is 

 preferred to all other native woods for small tool 

 handles, such athletic implements as rackets, bats 

 and oars, and agricultural implements. It is also 

 used extensivelv for furniture and interior finish. 



