WHITE ASH 



near a fire and both surrounded by ashen twigs, the serpent 

 will sooner run into tlie fire than pass over the pieces of asli ; 

 all of which is important if true. The other, refers to the 

 peculiar liability of the ash to be struck by lightning, and this 

 belief is embalmed in ancient folk-lore rhymes. 



The rustic laborer at the approach of a thunder-storm is 

 admonished, 



Beware the oak it draws the stroke, 



Avoid the ash it courts the flash, 



Creep under the tliorn it will save you from harm. 



Indeed, the oak and asii are frequently associated in coun- 

 try proverbs and rural lore. 



If the oak is out before the ash, 

 'Twill be a summer of wet and splash ; 



But if the ash is before the oak 

 'Twill be a summer ol fire and smoke. 



The wood of all the ashes is singularly light, strong and 

 elastic. Prehistoric man seeking an available weapon found 

 it in an ashen club. Achilles fought with an ashen spear. 

 Cupid made his arrows first of the ash. The North Ameri- 

 can Indian could find no better wood in the forest for his 

 bow or his paddle than the ash. It is the wood most exten- 

 sively used in the manufacture of agricultural implements. 



The tree has many insect enemies. All the species can be 

 easily raised from seed, which sometimes does not germi- 

 nate until the second year. Varieties can be multiplied by 

 grafting. 



Fraximis is of wide distribution and ancient type. A 

 tree of the temperate zone it occurs in Europe, Asia and 

 Africa and e.xcept in the extreme north is found in all parts 

 of North America. Its fossil remains prove it to have been 

 abundant in the tertiary period within the arctic circle. 



