62 THE ASH. 



where it predominates, leaves wide blanks of desolated 

 boughs, amidst foliage yet fresh and verdant. Before its 

 decay, we sometimes see its leaf tinged with a fine yellow, 

 well contrasted with the neighbouring greens. But this 

 is one of !N"ature's casual beauties. Much oftener its leaf 

 decays in. a dark, muddy, unpleasing tint. And yet some- 

 times, notwithstanding this early loss of its foliage, we 

 see the Ash, in a sheltered situation, when the rains have 

 been abundant and the season mild, retain its green (a 

 light pleasing green) when the Oak and the Elm in its 

 neighbourhood have put on their autumnal attire." ^ 



The precise time at which it sheds its leaves varies much 

 in different individuals, and this difference arises not only 

 from situation, but from other causes, for sometimes in the 

 hedgerow many trees will have cast their foliage while 

 others show no symptom of decay. 



Gilpin's remarks on the spray of the Ash are well worth 

 the attention of the artist. After pointing out the peculiar 

 character of the Oak, he proceeds to say: "The spray of 

 the Ash is very different. As the boughs of the Ash are 

 less complex, so is its spray. Instead of the thick inter- 

 mingled bushiness which the spray of the Oak exhibits, 

 that of the Ash is much more simple, running in a kind of 

 irregular parallels. The main stem holds its course, form- 

 ing at the same time a beautiful sweep ; but the spray does 

 not divide, like that of the Oak, from the extremity of the 

 last year's shoot, but springs from the side of it. Two 

 shoots spring out opposite to each other, and each pair in 

 a contrary direction. Earely, however, both the shoots of 

 either side come to maturity ; one of them is commonly lost 

 as the .tree increases, or at least makes no appearance in 

 comparison with the other, which takes the lead. So that 

 notwithstanding this natural regularity of growth, so in- 

 jurious to the beauty of the Spruce- fir and some other 

 trees, the Ash never contracts the least disgusting for- 

 mality from it. It may even secure great picturesque 

 ^ Gilpin. 



