60 



Ficus natcdense, NATAL FIG- 



This is a handsome tree affording a dense shade that has 

 been successfully planted in the streets of Cape Town. It 

 resists the South- east ers well. 



Fraxinus americcuna. AMERICAN ASH- 



A leaf-shedder. This promises better than the European 

 ash, but it is as yet too early to say how it will succeed. 

 A valuable tree. 1,040 seeds go to the ounce. 



Fraxinus excelsior. EUROPEAN ASH- 



A leaf-shedder. Ash seed does not germinate easily. In 

 Europe it is usual to u stratify" the seed, i.e., pack it in 

 moist sand till it starts germinating. In Cape Colony I 

 have found this plan to succeed well, but that the germi- 

 nation is equally good if the seed be sown in beds early in 

 winter. There is a considerable plantation of the various- 

 Ashes at Tokai and at Ceres Ecad, but all as yet show a 

 rather poor growth. It is very desirable to grow A sh , in 

 Cape Colony since there is no other elastic wood like Ash 

 or Hickory, and a considerable quantity of both these is 

 imported. Ash requires in Europe a damp situation and a 

 clayey soil. 1 ounce of seed averages 472. 



Fraxinus excelsior vcn\ Rabylia. KABYL ASH. 



A leaf-shedder. The Algerian Ash promises well on 

 Table Mountain and at Clanwiiliam. At Tokai the growth 

 has been slow. In the mountains of Algeria it grows with 

 great vigour and is used for a variety of purposes by the 

 industrious Kabyl peasants. It seems more likely to 

 succeed in South Africa than the European variety. If 

 sown early in winter its seed will germinate in great 

 part the first spring, the rest the following spring. The 

 seedlings should be transplanted and treated generally as 

 described under Oak. 1,650 seeds go to the ounce. 



