190 THE TREE BOOK 



Ash wood is tough, straight-grained and pli- 

 able. That of the white ash is of great value in 

 cabinet work, and it is much used in the frame- 

 work of farm machinery. Most of the ashes 

 take a good polish and are well adapted for 

 making furniture. Black ash lumber divides 

 easily into its annual layers. It is used exten- 

 sively for barrel hoops, for splint basket work, 

 and the like. 



The ashes do not form pure forests. We find 

 them scattered here and there among other trees 

 in the woodland, their favorite haunt being the 

 banks of the mountain stream, where they lean 

 gracefully over the water, adding much to the 

 somber color of the rocks in the background. 

 The white ash and the red ash are often found 

 growing side by side, and are so nearly alike 

 that only those with sharp eyes ever note their 

 difference. The red ash may be distingfuished, 

 summer and winter, by the velvety texture of 

 its leaves and twigs. The bark of this tree is 

 reddish on the branches, and it produces a more 

 slender, longer "key" than any of its kin. 



The green ash is very closely allied with the 

 red ash. It is, however, the smaller of the two 

 trees. Its leaves are shorter and narrower and 

 more sharply toothed. We see it mostly in 

 parks and gardens, as it is the favorite ash for 



