326 NOTES ON nurnsii iohhst trees. 



Soil. — Asli reciuires a deep, porous, moist and fertile soil. 

 It is chiefly found in low lands, near rivers, and in the bottom 

 of mountain valleys. Good loamy soils, with some lime, also 

 marls, suit it best ; it avoids sandy and acid soils. 



</. Shfijir ami IfrvcliiinnniL 



The ash has a straight stem, which divides into branches at 

 about half its height ; it is specially liable to fork. The 

 crown is of moderate extent and thin during the first half of 

 the tree's life ; afterwards it becomes broader. The root 

 system is extensive and deep going, with a tap-root ; the tree 

 requires much growing space below ground. It is a rapid 

 height grower, especially during the first half of its life ; 

 during the second half it is liable to be outgrown by both 

 beech and oak. It reaches a height up to about 110 feet. 



Ash does not attain a very large diameter. Its volume 

 growth is smaller than that of oak. 



The upper age limit of ash may be placed at 300 years. 



p. Rcproduriirc Poinr. 



The tree commences producing full crops of seed when 

 about 40 years old ; they are somewhat light, and occur alioul 

 every other year. The reproduction by seed is on the whole 

 good. 



If coppiced, the ash reproduces well from the stool, chietly 

 by stool shoots, but also by suckers, but the stools do not last 

 very long. It also rein-oduces well when pollarded. 



/'. Charach-r and ('(Diipusi/iiui of Wofiffs. 



Ash appears in pure woods, but owhig to its light foliage it 

 is not suited to be so grown except in very favourable localities. 

 It is much better adapted foi- mixing with otlier species, 

 especially beech, and also hornbeam. It is frequently found 

 mixed with oak, alder, maple, elm, lime, sweet chestnut, willow, 

 poplar ami ba/el, especially in copijicc with standards, or coppice 



