410 AMERICAN FOREST TREBS 



to a peculiarity of growth. The leading shoot of a growing ash has more 

 than one terminal bud. If a side bud pushes ahead, the stem leans a 

 little in that direction; next, a bud on the other side may gain the as- 

 cendancy, producing a slight lean for a few years in that direction; or two 

 side buds may develop simultaneously, causing a forked trunk. Ma- 

 ture trees often carry the history of- these peculiarities of growth. 



The seeds of white ash are equipped for moderate flight. The 

 wing is large, but the seed attached to the end of it is heavy enough 

 to give it a sharp tilt downward when it begins its flight through the air, 

 and it generally shoots at a steep angle toward the ground. It is not 

 apt to whirl through the air with a gliding motion like a maple seed. 

 Consequently, ash seeds are not great travelers. They are dispersed 

 with economy, however, for all do not come down at once, but many 

 hang on the tree for months, and a few go with every strong wind, thus 

 getting themselves scattered in every direction. Then- power of germi- 

 nation is low, and only about forty per cent of seeds are fertile. This 

 is due to the fact that pistillate and staminate flowers do not grow on the 

 same tree, and fertilization is imperfect. 



The importance of ash in the industries of the country does not 

 depend on the quantity but the quality of the wood. Although the 

 various species are produced in thirty-nine states, as shown by mill 

 statistics, the total yield is less than 250,000,000 feet a year. That is 

 exceeded by several woods, among them hickory, elm, beech, basswood, 

 chestnut, and even larch. 



The wood of ash which has grown rapidly is generally considered 

 superior to that of slow growth. The reason is found in the fact that 

 trees of slow growth do most of their growing early in the season, and the 

 wood is porous; but trees of rapid growth laysummerwood on abundant- 

 ly, and it is dense. Few species show a sharper line between spring and 

 summerwood than ash, for which reason the annual rings are clear-cut 

 and distinct. What figure ash has is produced by the growth rings, and 

 not by medullary rays. Quarter-sawing brings out no additional beauty. 

 Slight crooks in many logs produce a moderate cross grain in lumber, 

 which gives to finished ash its characteristic figure or grain. When 

 straight-grained wood is wanted, as when it is for tool handles and oars, 

 logs without crooks are selected. 



The wood of white ash is heavy, hard, strong, elastic, but rather 

 brittle. It lacks the toughness of hickory. The medullary rays are 

 numerous, but small and obscure. The color is brown, the sapwood 

 much lighter, often nearly white. It is not durable in contact with the 

 soil. Notwithstanding its name, the wood rates low in ash, and its fuel 

 value is under that of white oak. The states which produce the largest 



