.» THE MOUNTAIN ASH. 373 
throughout Europe. It is a well-known, beautiful, deciduous 
tree, with smooth branches, and the leaves pinnate, with 
uniform, serrate, smooth leaflets. In the months of May and 
June it produces numerous panicles of white blossoms, highly 
fragrant. They are generally followed by a profusion of 
scarlet berries, which become ripe in October. 
In Britain the tree attains to its greatest perfection in rich 
soil throughout the Highlands of Scotland, where it rises in 
a wild state, frequently associated with the birch, the alder, 
and the poplar (P. tremula); and in the rocky recesses of 
some upland districts, away from cultivation, it may be seen 
in autumn with its terminal shoots bending under the weight 
of scarlet berries, which sparkle amongst the varied tints of 
foliage peculiar to that season. But although the beauty of 
its foliage and fruit is hardly surpassed by any other decidu- 
ous tree adapted to our climate, yet it is possessed of other 
more valuable, though less conspicuous qualities. 
From its being extremely hardy it luxuriates in a cool soil 
at a great altitude, where many other trees perish from ex- 
posure. Although it never attains to a great size, yet it 
advances rapidly during the first eight or ten years of its 
growth. It is therefore suitable for rearing plantations of 
trees of slower growth, and in establishing a shelter round 
buildings and reclaimed land, in bleak and inhospitable situa- 
tions. Several instances could be referred to where, on 
exposed ground in the north of Scotland, of an altitude 
about 1200 feet, the mountain ash and other hardy trees of 
this genus have readily established a shelter, where, without 
protection, many sorts cannot live. The tree admits of being 
planted at the height of about four feet even in a bare situa- 
tion; it generally readily takes to the ground; and although 
deciduous, it soon affords shelter, from the number and close- 
ness of its branches. As a hedgerow tree in the worst expo- 
sures, it has no superior. It rises in an upright form when 
young; afterwards it forms a shapely head, which stands 
unaffected by the prevailing winds ; and whether in the wild 
acclivity of the Highlands, or in the low and cultivated 
