Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 21 1 



inches circumference at 2 feet from the base in 22 years [Furnas], 

 Resisting extreme heat better than the common Ash. Seeds of 

 this and some other Ashes, unless fresh sown, may lie for a whole 

 year in the ground before germinating. Timber largely exported ; 

 it assumes a red tint in age ; much valued for its toughness, light- 

 ness and elasticity, excellent for work subject to sudden shocks and 

 strains, such as the frames of machines, carriage -wheels, agricul- 

 tural implements, pick-handles, billiard-cues, fishing-rods, handles, 

 chair-rails, shafts, staves, pulley-blocks, belaying-pins and oars ; 

 also for furniture and musical instruments. The young branches 

 are utilized for mast-hoops. The author and Mr. J. G. Luehmann 

 found the strength greater than that of our Blackwood-tree and of 

 many Eucalypts, but not equal to that of E. Leucoxylon, E. sidero- 

 phloia, E. polyanthema, the best E. globulus and Hickory. Over- 

 old wood not desirable. When once thoroughly seasoned, it does 

 not shrink or swell, and is therefore preferred for flooring to any 

 native timber in Virginia [Robb, Simmonds]. The inner bark 

 furnishes a yellow- dye. The Red Ash (Fraxirms pubescens, 

 Lamarck) and the Carolina-Ash (F. platycarpa, Michaux) are of 

 smaller size, but F. pubescens may sometimes also become large. 



Fraxinus Chinensis, Roxburgh. 



It is this Ash, on which a peculiar wax is produced by Coccus 

 Pela, perhaps also on some species of Ligustrum. About 40,000 Ibs. 

 are exported annually according to Bernardini. F. Mandschurica 

 (Ruprecht) attains a height of 60 feet and a stem-diameter of 

 4 feet. 



Fraxinus excelsior, C. Bauhin.* 



The ordinary Ash of Europe and Western Asia, extending to the 

 Himalayas and Thibet, there ascending to 9,000 feet. A tree of 

 comparatively quick growth, known to attain an age of nearly 200 

 years. It is a very hardy tree, braving the winters of Norway to 

 lat. 69 40', though there only a shrub ; but in lat. 61 12' it attained 

 still a height of 100 feet and a stem-diameter of 5 feet [Schuebeler]. 

 Rich soil on forest-rivulets or river-banks suits it best, although it 

 also thrives on moist sand. Wood remarkably tough and elastic, 

 used for agricultural and other implements, handles, ladders, drum- 

 hoops, carriage-work, oars, axle-trees and many other purposes. 

 Six peculiar kinds of Ash-trees occur in Japan, some also in the 

 Indian highlands ; all might be tried for industrial culture. 



Fraxinus floribunda, Don. 



Nepal- Ash. Himalaya, between 4,000 and 11,000 feet. Attains 

 a height of 120 feet ; girth of stem sometimes 15 feet. Serves not 

 only as a timber- tree, but also as a fine avenue- tree. The wood 

 much sought for oars, ploughs and various implements [Stewart 

 and Brandis]. For forest-plantations Ashes are best mixed with 

 beeches and some other trees. 



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