69 



obtuse at both ends. A slender tree with a stem 40 to 60 feet high, of very 

 tough coarse-grained wood readily separated into grains, when it is used for 

 flat hoops and baskets. A truly valuable variety for growing in low wet 

 soils. 



All the species of the ash mentioned, are worthy of cultivation in the va- 

 rious soils on which trees may be desired. All but the black ash prefers the 

 same, soil as the sugar maple and the elm, and as they are tall growing trees, 

 may be grown at the rate of from 1440 to 320 to the acre ; or 160, with a 

 similar number of the hickory or sugar maple, which the white and blue ash 

 will outgrow. If the larger number of trees be started to the acre, all should 

 be trimmed to single stems of 40 feet, and removed to 160 as soon as the 

 trees reach a foot in diameter at two feet from the ground. Ash timber, 

 like hickory and oak, is all the more valuable for making a rapid growth, and 

 being coarse grained. 



White and blue ash timber is largely used in the manufacture of farming 

 implements. One can scarcely name a tool, some part of which is not, or 

 ought to be, made of ash or hickory, where lightness, strength and elasticity 

 are required. The carriage maker resorts to these woods in the construction 

 of his wheels, axles, thills, bodies, and other parts of his light and fine car- 

 riages, when strength and lightness are to be combined with elasticity. The 

 European farmer prizes American manufactured implements more than those 

 made of the same patterns at home, simply because we have and use better 

 timber, and that timber is ash. The timber is about as durable as the oak, 

 and many trees have been split into fence rails. Considerable quantities are 

 also worked up at the cabinet makers, and ash furniture has many ad.-nirers; 

 for this purpose the highest parts of the stems, and more brittle timber is 

 even preferable to the tough wood required by the implement maker. Un- 

 der all these uses, ash trees and lumber is rapidly passing away, and prices 

 are raising in value ; and before others can be produced large enough to be 

 sent to the saw mills, the lumber must command double its present price. 



As fuel all these varieties deservedly hold a place next to the hickory, 

 being better than the red hearted wpod of the hickory. It burns with a 

 cheerful flame, kindles rapidly, even when green, and gives a hard hot coal. 

 The wood not adapted to manufacturing purposes can always go to the fire. 



The black ash is not less valuable for its timber than the others, for cer- 

 tain uses. The wood is more durable for fence posts and rails, and railroad 

 ties than the white ash ; for hoops, the splits are in extensive demand, and 

 is the most economical of wood for that purpose. The tree delights in a soil 

 too wet to produce grain, and is not damaged by standing water which only 

 covers Its roots. For timber belts which sometimes require to be located in 

 such lands, no deciduous tree is better adapted than this. It may be grown 

 at the rate of 640 to the acre or eight and a quarter feet apart every way. 

 For that purpose the land might be thrown into small mounds, leaving the 

 water to stand on more than one-half the surface. Its ow7i young shoots 



