250 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



as giving a better and much more effective control over the 

 disposition and interspersion of this subordinate among the 

 ruling species. In copse and coppice, and on all varieties 

 of marshy soils, rank growth of grass threatens it with greater 

 danger than may be apprehended from frost ; for although 

 late frosts often damage the seedlings and the young shoots, 

 its recuperative and reproductive power is good. Where grass 

 and frost are feared, planting is usual, transplants of all sizes 

 being easily put out so as to establish themselves readily. 

 Where a strong head of game is maintained, ash, like 

 maple and sycamore, is apt to surfer considerably, for deer 

 love to strip the comparatively smooth bark from trees, as 

 well as from young poles. 



As nearly every October brings a good supply of ash * keys] 

 which mostly remain hanging on the twigs throughout the 

 winter, there is seldom any lack of seed which may easily 

 be plucked by hand. And as the bulk of the seed only 

 germinates in the second spring after its ripening, it is 

 preferable to bring it under cover until it can be sown 

 during the second autumn or spring after its produc- 

 tion, otherwise voles and field-mice are apt to devour it. 

 The preservation of the seed can be effected simply by 

 mixing it with sand, and putting it away in boxes in a 

 damp place ; when wanted, ii can be sown out just as it 

 is, or the seeds can be collected by running the sandy 

 soil through a sieve. For seed-beds, preserved seed is 

 preferred ; but for sowing in beech or other mixed forests, 

 the fresh seed is merely strewn on the prepared patches. 

 Except for the production of seedlings and transplants, sowing 

 of ash seed on any extensive scale is not adopted ; even if 

 pure forests, or mixed woods with ash as the chief species, 

 were considered desirable, the danger from rank growth of 

 grass would usually determine in favour of planting. Where, 

 however, Sowing is carried out under the shade of standards 



