XXVII. ] 



ASH. 



209 



Ash is extremely durable if felled in the winter 

 months and properly seasoned before use ; but where 

 these precautions are neglected few woods .are more 

 perishable. Very great advantage will be found in re- 

 ducing the Ash logs soon after they are felled into plank 

 or board for seasoning, since, if left for only a short time 

 in the round state, deep shakes open from the surface, 

 which involve a very heavy loss when brought on later 

 for conversion. 



Ash wood, when beginning to decay, changes at 

 the centre to a blackish colour, as also it will do if 

 the trees are pollarded or topped off during growth, 

 hence the " best quality " should be uniformly greyish- 

 white throughout. 



There are several varieties of the Ash which attain 

 timber size, and those which are raised for ornamental 

 purposes in this country are very numerous. This tree is 

 remarkable for its lateness in putting out its leaves in the 

 spring, and for throwing them off very early in the 

 autumn. 



TABLE CVIII. ASH (ENGLISH). 

 Transverse Experiments. 



