THE ASH-LEAVED MAPLE AND THE ASHES. 243 



hang in loose clusters, and frequently remain od the 

 bare branches until the middle of winter. 



The ash is a rapid-growing tree, which in thirty 

 years from the time of planting will attain a height 

 of 40 feet and a trunk diameter of sixteen inches. 

 It is distinctively an inhabitant of the forest, and it 

 likes rich, moist, cool soil. It is found from New 

 England to northern Minnesota; southward it ex- 

 tends to northern Florida, and from there westward 

 to Indian Territory, Kansas, and centra] 

 Texas. The hard, tough wood has a 

 handsome grain, and it is extensively 

 used for the interior finish of houses, 

 for furniture, carriages, agricultural 

 implements, and oars. 



Bed Ash. The red asl1 is a 



Fraxinus smaller species, which 



Pennsulvartica. r A n 



J grows irom 40 



to 60 feet high, and is dis- 

 tinguished by the velvety 

 hairiness of its leaf 

 stems and branehlets. 

 From seven to nine 

 leaflets orow on the 

 slightly grooved stem; they are indistinctly toothed, 

 light green above and pale green below, covered with 

 downy hairs. The seed is rather blunt-tipped. 



Red Ash. 



