GREEN ASH (Fraxinus Lanceolata)* 



XI. Notes on Forest Trees Suitable 

 for Planting in the United States 



DISTRIBUTION AND MANNER OF 

 OCCURRENCE. 



The Green Ash is distributed over 

 the greater part of the United States 

 east of the Rocky Mountains, even 

 extending into the mountains in Utah 

 and New Mexico ; to the northward 

 it occurs as far as the Saskatchewan 

 River in Canada. It is most abun- 

 dant in the Mississippi basin, and is 

 rather infrequent in the East. In the 

 timber belts along the streams that 

 drain the plains and prairie country 

 of the middle West the Green Ash 

 often occurs as the leading species, 

 but in general, especially in the East, 

 appears singly or in small groups 

 among other hardwoods. The 

 species most commonly found in such 

 natural mixtures are the. White Elm, 

 Hackberry, Sycamore, Black Cherry. 

 Red Ash, and Bur Oak. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF FORM AND 

 GROWTH. 



The Green Ash is a medium-sized 

 tree- with a straight, undivided bole 

 when forest grown, and slender 

 spreading branches. A height of 80 

 feet and a diameter of 24 inches is 

 rarely exceeded. Deep-seated fibrous 

 roots, which extend laterally, form 

 the characteristic root system. Be- 

 cause of the absence of vertical heart 

 or tap roots, transplanting of seed- 

 lings is not difficult. The tree pre- 

 fers full light, and is tolerant of mod- 

 erate shade only. 



In the arid or semi-arid regions the 

 growth is not rapid. In the more 

 humid sections the Green Ash com- 

 pares favorably with other broad- 

 leaved trees in rate of growth, al- 

 though under no conditions is it a 

 rapid grower. Under average con- 

 ditions planted trees should make 



posts in fifteen to twenty years, and 

 be large enough for stakes or fuel 

 in less time. From measurements 

 made in Nebraska it appears that the 

 diameter accretion in that region is 

 from 0.2 to 0.3 inch annually. 



THE WOOD : ITS ECONOMIC USES. 



The wood of the Green Ash is hard, 

 heavy, and strong, rather coarse- 

 grained, and brittle. It is utilized in 

 the manufacture of agricultural im- 

 plements, carriages, and furniture, 

 and, although said to be inferior in 

 quality, is substituted for White Ash 

 to a large extent; the timber of the 

 two species is often sold indiscrimi- 

 nately. The relative fuel value of the 

 wood is high. Although not first-class 

 for fence posts, it is used for this pur- 

 pose extensively in the north central 

 states, and is highly prizer in the many 

 sections where more valuable species 

 are not available. 



SOIL AND SITE. 



The Green Ash occurs naturally and 

 is of best development on low, moist 

 ground. It is said that the soils 

 favorable to the best growth of the 

 Green Ash are found on river bot- 

 toms and consist of slightly alkaline 

 "gumbo." The tree is in general un- 

 usually tolerant of alkaline soils of 

 any nature. Low swales at the foot 

 of bluffs also produce good trees. The 

 tree does not demand rich soil, but 

 will thrive moderately well on a dry 

 sandy loam, or on a stiff clay upland 

 Its ability to persist and even thrive 

 under adverse conditions of tempera- 

 ture and moisture is unsurpassed by 

 any broad-leaved tree. It is reported 

 to be one of the best trees for planting 

 at Brandon, Manitoba, in latitude 50 

 degrees north, and will do equally well 



'Data furnished bv the U. S Forest Service. 



