14 THK ASH. 



hrown telt-likc p.uldiny. The leaves at lirst tmich each otlier at tlie 

 tips ; gradiKill\- thev separate and tlie leatiets c.xpaiul, until the wliole 

 tree is covereti with a curtain of hriyht yreen hiliaye. The voun:^ 

 leaves at tirvt puint upwards, and milv gradually assume a horizontal 

 position : w hen tuUv dex'eloped each is about ten inches in length. 



Each leaf is made up ot a terminal leaflet, and tour to six opposite 

 leaflets. King in the same plane with one another. Both upper and 

 under surfaces of the leaflet are smooth and dull, the upper side some- 

 what gre\ i^h-yreen in colour, the under side much paler. Tiny hairs 

 crow on the under side near the base and follow the line ot the ribs. 

 The form ot the buds and the leaves is shown in the drawing. Some- 

 times, from the same point on the leat-stem as tlie lowest pair of 

 leaflets, there springs a secondary and smaller pair, but as a rule the 

 space between the couples is regularly equal to hali" the length of the 

 leaflet. 



The mill-rib which bears the leaflets is a continuation of the leal- 

 stalk, and like it pale \ell(.\\ in colour and of a very light and 

 glossv surt'ace on the uiuler side. Where the leaf-stalk joins the main 

 stem it is swdllen and ihirker in colour. The uiuler surface ot the 

 leaf-stalk is rounded, the upper surface is flat and presents a curious 

 feature at the point of its junction with the leaflet ribs. At that 

 point its outer edges separate and ili\'erge to i^ight and leit as it were 

 to give otf the subordinate ribs : they then close together again, thus 

 forming a diamond-shaped hollow between tlu- le.iriet stems. 



The foliacre of the ash does not crrow in sulluienth dense masses 

 for its colouring to hold its own when seen against the sky. It has 

 no depth of tone and appears greyish in lint. When the wind blows 

 the lower surface of the leaf-stalks, pale yellow .uul shining, becomes 

 visible and a new elfect of colour is produced. The leaves do not 



