THE ELM. 107 



thrown into the back-ground, began to assume that 

 station. The fore-ground trees, the best that could 

 be procured, placed on the eastern bank, above the 

 water, broke it into parts with their spreading 

 branches, and formed combinations which were ex- 

 tremely pleasing. The copse or underwood, which 

 covers an island in the lake, and two promontories, 

 as also an adjoining bank that terminates the dis- 

 tance, was seen coining down nearly to the water's 

 edge. What was the most important of all, both 

 trees and underwood had obtained a full and deep- 

 coloured leaf, and health and vigour were restored to 

 them. In a word, the whole appeared like a spot at 

 least forty years planted." 



ASH. 



There are about forty species of the Ash : the Com- 

 mon Jlsh (Fraxinus excelsior) is one of the most valu- 

 able of trees. It has been known from the remotest 

 period of history, and it is very generally diffused. 

 The Ash agrees with a greater variety of soil and situa- 

 tion than, perhaps, any other tree producing timber of 

 equal value; and, differing from many other trees, its 

 value is increased rather than diminished by the 

 rapidity of its growth. On very poor soils, where it 

 grows stunted, it is brittle, and soon affected by the 

 rot; but, where the growth has been vigorous, the 

 compact part of the several layers bears a greater 

 proportion to the spongy, and the timber is very 

 tough, elastic, and durable. In elasticity it is far 

 superior to the oak, and it is not so liable to be 

 broken by a cross strain; but it is much more fibrous, 

 and more easily split. The ash is, by way of emi- 

 nence, called " the Husbandman's tree," nothing 

 being equal to it for agricultural implements, and 

 for all sorts of poles, ladders, long handles, and 



