262 THE ASHES 



may, and should, be left on, as the roots are easily broken 

 at this age. 



.Close planting in the forest is absolutely necessary to 

 force the tree to grow tall and free from limbs. The United 

 States Forest Service 1 recommends four feet each way as 

 a suitable distance. This would necessitate early thinning, 

 but if carefully looked after, that distance would, no doubt, 

 be about right. At all events, it should not be much more. 

 Much space has been given to this tree because of its 

 intrinsic value as a timber tree. Next to the White Oak it 

 is the most valuable of all the genuine hardwoods, and its 

 propagation is not difficult, nor is there any reason why it 

 should not be undertaken where conditions are favorable. 



RED ASH : Fraxinus pennsylvanica 



IN many respects Red Ash resembles the more import- 

 ant White Ash. The economic difference is that it does 

 not grow as large, its wood is not quite as valuable, and it 

 prefers a moister soil. The non-botanist can determine 

 whether a tree is a White or a Red Ash by examining its 

 twigs and leaves. If there should be found on the twigs, or 

 underside of the leaves, a down, consisting of soft, short 

 hairs, called pubescence, the tree may be set down as 

 Red Ash. There is no distinction made in the lumber trade, 

 but there should be, although for many purposes one is 

 about as good as the other. It is mainly in elasticity that 

 the White Ash is superior. 



The Red Ash grows in nearly all localities where the 

 White Ash does, with its best development in the North- 

 ern States and east of the Alleghany Mountains. West of 

 these mountains it is not so common, or so large, and ap- 

 pears to change in character. At its best it seldom attains 

 a height of over seventy feet or a diameter of over twenty- 

 two inches. It forms an irregularly shaped head when ap- 

 proaching maturity. It is light-demanding and must be 

 1 White Ash, Circular No. 84. 



