UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



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Contribution from the Forest Service 

 HENRY S. GRAVES, Forester 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER. 



December 13, 1915 



THE ASHES: THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND 



MANAGEMENT. 



By W. D. Steeeett, Forest Examiner. 



CONTENTS. 



Importance 1 



Lumber cut 2 



Use by industries 4 



Groups and species 6 



Silvicultural significance 9 



Relative importance of species 11 



Occurrence 13 



Soil, moisture, and light requirements 17 



Reproduction 19 



Injuries 23 



Form and development 25 



Yields 32 



Value of standing timber 34 



Forest management 36 



Rotation 39 



Species for timber growing 39 



Natural v. artificial reforestation 40 



Reforesting by natural means 41 



Reforesting by artificial means 44 



Thinnings 48 



Summary 51 



Appendix 52 



IMPORTANCE OF ASH FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



The ash genus (Fraxinus), containing 18 or more native species, 

 is of considerable importance for forest management in the United 

 States. Because of its fine qualities, which make it valuable in the 

 handle, butter-tub, vehicle, boat-oar, athletic goods, and other in- 

 dustries, and because the supply is limited and the annual output 

 small, ash timber of good grade commands a high price. The tree 

 lends itself readily to both natural and artificial reproduction, has 

 a good rate of growth under proper conditions, responds well to 

 thinnings made to increase its growth, and is comparatively free 

 from destructive attacks of insects and diseases. It is probably 

 more desirable than the other common heavy hardwoods — oak, 

 hickory, maple, birch, and beech — for commercial timber growing 

 on sites to which it is adapted, as it is merchantable when smaller 

 and is usually higher priced and faster growing. It will be one of 

 the first woods the demand for which will exceed the supply. Handle 

 producers as a class feel that they will soon be facing a serious shortage 

 of ash timber, and have as yet been unable to find anything to take 

 its place satisfactorily. 



6023°— Bull. 299—1.5—1 



