14 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



suitable for furniture. Gamble notes that the wood is said to be difficult 

 to saw on account of a resinous substance, but it is easy to plane. 



Ash, American. Fraxinus americana, Linn. ; F. samhucifolia^ Lam., 

 etc. Weight, 42 lbs. America. 



The wood is derived from a number, up to ten, of different species of 

 ash. The produce of these is mixed together without any attempt at 

 sorting the different kinds, which vary greatly in their qualities. It is 

 thus impossible to secure timber of any standard quality. Occasionally, 

 however, small supplies equal to British or Canadian ash have been 

 imported into England. As a rule the wood is not so white as these two 

 latter. Yet the best kinds rank with, and are dif&cult to distinguish from, 

 the best EngUsh ash. For instance, a frame of American ash remained 

 perfectly sound and was very hard after it had been in continual use for 

 thirty-five years in an old horse-car on the London tramways. 



Immense quantities of logs, boards, and planks have been imported 

 into England for a number of years, and the timber has found its way into 

 general use for every kind of purpose for which ash is used. Latterly the 

 greatest demand has come from motor-carriage and waggon works. 

 Although a very smaU percentage of supplies yield wood strong enough, 

 yet during the war it was condemned for use in aeroplane construction. 



Both the pores and medullary rays are larger and coarser than in the 

 British ash, although in general character the growth is the same. 



Ash, Canadian. Fraxinus sp. Weight, 41 lbs. 14 oz. Canada. 



This wood is perhaps equal to British ash in quality, and some of it 

 may even be stronger. It is in demand for making oars for the Royal 

 Navy. Supplies, however, are daily decreasing. 



Ash, Eukopean. Fraxinus excelsior, Linn. Weight, 46 lbs. 14 oz. 

 Europe. 



The common ash tree is widely distributed over Europe and supplies 

 the Enghsh, French, Hungarian, and Turkish ash timber of commerce. 



{a) English Ash. Weight, 47 lbs.— The wood is greyish-white in 

 colour, of moderate weight and hardness, very even and close in the 

 grain, tough, elastic, and easily worked. Owing to its great fiexibihty 

 it can never be safely used in architectural work. For hoops and all 

 kinds of agricultural implements, however, it is invaluable, since when 

 steamed it can easily be bent into any form of curve required without 

 injury to the fibre. Ash is extremely durable if felled in the winter 

 months and properly seasoned before use ; but where these precautions 

 are neglected few woods are more perishable. Very great advantage will 



