208 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



THE ASH TREE (Fraxinus}. 



Among British timber trees this occupies a very pro- 

 minent place, on account of its great beauty and highly 

 ornamental character. It attains commonly a height of 

 30 to 50 feet, with a circumference of from 5 to 6 feet, 

 and grows readily in almost any description of soil, but 

 prefers a rich loam and moisture to bring it to the 

 greatest perfection. 



We find it frequently raised in coppices. In the 

 pottery districts, owing to its value as crate wood, it is 

 cut every five or six years, while in other places it is cut 

 down only at intervals of seven or eight years. From 

 the early falls poles for lances are obtained, besides much 

 that is useful to the cooper, the turner, and manufacturer 

 of small wares. The later falls yield timber of more 

 useful dimensions, and this is exceedingly valuable to 

 the coachmaker and the wheelwright. 



The wood is greyish-white in colour, of moderate 

 weight and hardness, very even and close in the grain, 

 tough, elastic, and easily worked. To the carpenter^ 

 however, it is only found to be available for very minor 

 purposes, as, owing to its great flexibility, it can never 

 be safely used in architectural works. For hoops, and 

 all kinds of agricultural implements, however, it is in- 

 valuable, since when steamed or heated it can easily be 

 bent into any form of curve required, without injury to 

 the fibre. 



It is peculiar to the Ash that it has no sap-wood 

 that is to say, there is no perceptible difference between 

 the first-formed and the later or outer layers ; there is 

 thus an advantage in the employment of this description 

 of wood over that of most others for any of the purposes 

 for which it is adapted, as it can be utilised to the full 

 diameter of the tree. 



