74 KINDS OF TREES, 



THE ASH. 



(Fraxinus excelsior.) 



The Afh is a free growing tree, and, when in 

 perfection, is of great magnitude. It is too well 

 known to require minute defcription. The moft 

 proper ftation for the Afh, is certainly in the fo- 

 reft or the grove - 9 but it is of that figure that it 

 may be admitted as a fingle tree in the park or the 

 lawn. 



Much, however, has been faid againfl admit- 

 ting the common Afh as an ornamental tree. One 

 difcards it, becaufe it does not leaf till late in 

 the fpring ; but, for the fame reafon, the oak and 

 the platanus might alfo be rejected. Another de 

 nies it admiflion, becaufe it fheds its leaves early 

 in autumn ; but the fame objection would apply 

 to the beech, the cherry, and the fycamore. A 

 third denounces it, becaufe its foliage is thin, and 

 its branches bare and ugly. Thus the Afh, the 

 moft ufeful and accommodating of trees, is often 

 denied a place where, we hefitate not to fay, it 

 might appear with the utmoft propriety ; and the 

 real reafon perhaps is merely that it is common. 



It may be remarked, that fome of the very ar- 

 guments adduced againft the admiflion of the Afh 

 into ornamental fituations, are fuch as a perfon of 



i taftc 



