WHITE ASH. 



71 



or spreading branches and grayish farrowed bark, reaching a 

 height of 120 arid a diameter of 6 feet. (Plate VI.) 



It grows in low, rather moist soil, from Nova Scotia to northern 

 Minnesota, southward to northern Florida, central Alabama and 

 Mississippi, and west to eastern Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Terri- 

 tory, and eastern Texas ; reaching its best development in the 

 basin of the Ohio river. 



In North Carolina, where it grows to an average height of 

 50 to 80 and a diameter of 2 to 3 feet, it occurs throughout the 

 State. (Fig. 12.) 



MAP OF 



NORTH CAROLINA 



LEGEND 



Distribution of the WHITE ASH 

 (Fraxinus Americana, L.) 



Western limits of the WATER ASH 

 (Fraxinus caroliniana, Mill) 



The white ash produces seed abundantly about every 3 or 

 4 years, though individual trees alor.g streams, or when isolated, 

 bear more frequently. The young seedlings, which are not com- 

 mon, stand shade well, and are usually found in moist situations, 

 often at a considerable distance from the parent tree. Large 

 trees are usually sound, but somstimes have large heart-cracks. 

 In the mountains a mixed growth of oaks, lin, and buckeye 

 replace the white ash after lumbering. The timber is attacked 

 while still standing, especially when growing in swamps, by 

 Fatua denudata, Harris, the ash sesia. 



The leaves are composed of 5 to 9, usually 7, stalked leaflets. 

 The inconspicuous flowers appear before the leaves in spring, the 

 male and female on separate trees, and the narrow-winged fruit 

 is H to 2 inches long. The rust-colored winter-buds are covered 



