The Ashes and the Fringe Tree 



Blue-ash trees are common in the rich bottom lands of the 

 Wabash River in Illinois, and along other tributaries of the 

 Mississippi from southern Michigan, through Iowa and Missouri 

 to Kansas and into Arkansas. It reaches south to the upper 

 part of Alabama and east to the highlands of Tennessee. Some 

 of the finest specimens grow on the limestone hills of the Big 

 Smoky Mountains. The exact range of this tree is not known at 

 present. 



The French botanist, Michaux, fell in love, with this tall, 

 graceful grey-stemmed ash when he found it growing among 

 the Alleghany Mountains. He named it for its angled twigs, 

 and sent seeds, and young trees, perhaps, to be planted in European 

 gardens. We can do no better than to follow his example, and 

 plant the blue ash for shade and ornament in America. It is 

 hardy, quick of growth, and unusually free from the ills that 

 beset trees. A well-grown specimen is a constant joy to the 

 tree lover. 



The blue ash ranks high as a timber tree. It is fully the 

 equal of white ash, and in one particular is better even than this 

 one. It is more durable than any other ash wood when exposed 

 alternately to wet and dry conditions. It is used for vehicles, 

 for flooring, and for tool handles, especially pitchforks. 



Oregon Ash (Fraxinus Oregona, Nutt.) — A broad-crowned, 

 shapely tree, 75 to 80 feet high, with stout trunk and erect, 

 stout branches. Bark reddish grey or brown, deeply fissured, 

 with ridges interlacing and shedding papery scales. IVood brown, 

 coarse, hard, light, porous. Buds small, acute, with rusty or 

 pale pubescence. Leaves compound, 5 to 14 inches long, of 5 to 7 

 pinnate leaflets, firm, thick, pale green above, lighter and pubescent 

 beneath; terminal leaflet on stalk i inch long, lateral ones on 

 shorter stalks or sessile; leaflets oblong or oval, obscurely serrate, 

 abruptly pointed; autumn colour yellow or russet brown. Flow- 

 ers, April with leaves, dioecious, in smooth, dense panicles. Fruit 

 in crowded clusters, each obovate, i^ to 2 inches long; body 

 fusiform, about length of wing. Preferred habitat, rich, moist 

 soil, near streams. Distribution, Pacific coast from Puget Sound 

 to Bay of San Francisco, and back to foothills of Sierras. Uses: 

 A valuable shade tree. Wood used for furniture, interior finish- 

 ing of houses, frames of vehicles, cooperage and fuel. 



This tree has the ash habit of unfolding its leaves late in 

 438 



