EUROPEAN ASH-TREE. 3QQ 
trie pieces of ash ; and Dioscorides asserts that the juice of ash leaves, mixed with 
wine, is a cure for the bite of serpents. Evelyn mentions that, in some parts of 
England the country people believe that, " if they split young ash-trees, and make- 
ruptured children pass through the chasm, it will cure them;" and the Rev. \\ . 
T. Bree relates an instance, within his personal knowledge, of this extraordinary 
superstition having been practised within a few years in Warwickshire. Another 
superstition is that of boring a hole in an ash-tree, and imprisoning a shrew 
mouse in it. A few strokes with a branch of a tree thus prepared, is supposed to 
cure lameness and cramps in cattle, all of which the poor mouse is accused of hav- 
ing occasioned. There is also a proverb in the midland counties of England, 
that, "if there are no keys on the ash-trees, there will be no king within the 
twelvemonth;" in allusion to the ash never being totally destitute of keys. 
Lightfoot says that, in many parts of the Highlands of Scotland, " at the birth of 
a child, the nurse or midwife puts one end of a green stick of this tree into the 
fire, and, while it is burning, gathering in a spoon the sap, or juice, which oozes 
out at the other end, administers this as the first spoonful of food to the newly- 
born baby." Gilpin, in his "Forest Scenery," calls the oak the Hercules of the 
forest, and the ash the Venus. The Romans called the seed of the ash lingua 
avis, from its supposed resemblance to a bird's tongue. In marshy situations, 
the ash strikes its roots deep into the ground. Hence arises the proverb in some 
parts of England, " May your foot-fall be by the root of an ash " may you get 
a firm footing. 
Soil and Situation. The Fraxinus excelsior always grows best in a good soil, 
somewhat calcareous, and which, though not boggy, is generally adjoining water. 
Its most favourite situations are on the steep, rocky banks of rivers, or on the 
sides of glens, where the soil is generally of a great depth, and a stream not very 
far distant. The ash, however, agrees with a greater variety of soil and situa- 
tion, perhaps, than any other tree producing timber of equal value ; and, differing 
from many other trees, its value is increased, rather than diminished, by the rapid- 
ity of its growth. Wherever its growth is stunted, the wood is brittle, and soon 
affected by the rot ; but where it has been vigorous, the compact part of the several 
layers bears a greater proportion to the cellular or spongy parts, and the timber 
is very tough, elastic, and durable. Mr. Sang, who is considered the very best 
modern authority in all matters respecting the hardier forest trees, observes, that 
the ash " is found in the highest perfection on dry, loamy soils. On such it spon- 
taneously grows. In moist, but not wet soils, it grows fast, but soon sickens. 
It will grow freely on most kinds of soils, if the situation be tolerably good, except 
on retentive clays or tills. In wet soils, it soon sits up, (ceases to increase either 
in girth or height,) languishes, and dies. In rich lands, its wood is short and 
brittle; in sandy soils it is tough and reedy; qualities which, for several purposes. 
very much enhance it value. In loam, mixed with decomposed rock, at the bot- 
tom of a mountain, the ash arrives at a greater size." Dr. Walker, a close 
observer of nature, and an ardent lover of trees, says, in his " Highlands of Scot- 
land," that, "The ash should be planted on dry banks, in glens and gullies, in 
places incumbered with large, loose stones, and in all rocky places, wherever 
there is shelter;" but, "the largest trees," continues he, " will always be found 
where they have running water within reach of their roots." And he addSj 
"There is no situation too high, or too cold, for the ash, provided it has shelter; 
but without shelter it never makes a considerable tree at a great height, even 
though standing in a good soil." The most proper situation for the ash. accord- 
ing to Nicol, is the forest or the grove. Marshall recommends it to be planted 
alternately with the oak; because, as the ash draws its nourishment from the 
surface, and the oak from the sub-soil, the ground would thus he fully and profit- 
ably employed 
