Trees for Economic Planting 49 



growth the ash is most valuable for handle wood and for 

 agricultural implements. 



The timber is hard, heavy, and flexible, and though 

 rapidly grown it is tough and elastic above that of any other 

 tree grown in this country, hence its universal employment 

 for machinery and other special purposes where great 

 strength, combined with yielding powers, are points of first 

 consideration. Few timbers become useful at such an 

 early age as does the ash. At from four to six years' growth 

 it is fit for walking sticks, for spade handles at ten years, 

 while after that age the uses to which it is applied are very 

 numerous and diverse. For the cartwright, the agricultural 

 implement maker, carpenter, cooper and turner, it is of 

 special value. No timber has been found to equal 

 it for the making of oars, pulleys, blocks, ladders, 

 hoops, and crates. Owing to its sawing without splintering 

 it is used for milkpails, kitchen tables, staircases, and similar 

 purposes, while when of large size it is greatly in demand for 

 furniture making. 



For smoking herrings ash wood has a certain local 

 demand. Potash is procured from the ashes of the 

 branches, and the bark has a special value in the tanning 

 of nets. 



The Beech. For profitable planting the beech is one of 

 our most valuable trees, while it has the extra recommenda- 

 tions that it grows rapidly, succeeds well in the shade, and 

 reproduces itself freely. 



The finest beech timber is produced on chalky or deep 

 sandy soils, the former being preferable as may be instanced 

 by the comparatively high price obtained for that grown 

 on the Chiltern Hills and chalky formations of parts of Kent 

 and Herts. The growth of the beech is rapid and it attains 

 its prime at from sixty to seventy years, after which age 

 the timber often becomes black at the heart and accom- 

 panied by rottenness and shakes which render it almost 

 useless for constructive purposes. It is better suited for 

 indoor than outdoor use and is extensively used in the 

 making of Windsor chairs, for millwright and engineering 

 purposes, for the handles of carpenters' tools, for bobbins 



