10 FORESTRY MANUAL. 



THE ASH. 



We do not hesitate to say avoid Eastern grown seeds. On the nearest 

 river or creek bottom gather seeds without thought as to species, except in 

 the case of Black ash, which is distinctive and well known. 



Spread out the winged seeds on a smooth, hard patch of dry ground, not 

 more than four inches thick, cover with straw, with boards on top to 'keep 

 off most of the snow and rain; sow«arlyin spring, if possible where per- 

 manently wanted. Mark out the ground one way, as for corn, in rows four 

 feet apart, plant four or five seeds a hill, every two feet in the rows. A 

 few days later plant small sweet-corn, or Yankee-corn, in the spaces be- 

 tween the points where the ash seeds are germinating. Start the cultivator 

 as soon as the plants can be seen. While the plants are making a start, go 

 through with a hoe to keep down the weeds. In a very few days the two- 

 horse cultivator may be run as close to the ash plants as to the corn. Leave 

 the cornstalks on the ground to hold the snow the succeeding winter. The 

 surplus plants may be used to fill vacancies. If you call the plantation thus 

 started White, Red or Green ash, you will soon find, with good care, that you 

 have a young grove of which you are proud. 



BLACK ASH. 



Nature plants this useful tree as she does the larch, in swamps, along ra- 

 vines, in moist rich bottoms, and quite rarely on rich second bottom lands. 

 It does not prove profitable to plant it on dry ridges, nor indeed is it best to 

 put it in full rows, in plantations running from the edge of ravines to 

 higher land. Plant low moist patches, wherever they occur, with Black 

 ash. On such grounds, with culture when young, this ash grows rapidly and 

 thriftily. Plant very closely in the rows and utilize the poles in thinning 

 for hoops, splints, stakes, etc. With increased size the poles are strong and 

 durable nailed on posts for fenco. This ash, like all the others, is noted for 

 vigorous sprouting from stumps cut in winter. 



, W. L. Brockman, of Carroll, Iowa, recently pulled a Black ash sprout, of 

 one season's growth, ten feet in length. 



Propagate same as White ash. 



BLACK CHERRY. 



Contrary to usual belief, this tree grows very rapidly on our richest prai- 

 rie soil. In the early plantations of timber trees, near Elgin, Illinois, a tree 

 of this kind has a circumference of sixty inches one foot above the crown. 

 It grew from seed planted twenty-six years ago. Trees in groves in eastern 

 Iowa, fifteen years planted, are fully as large as Soft maple of the same age, 

 though for the first eight years Soft maple attains the greatest diameter, but 

 the least height. In response to request, Dr. Warder, of Ohio, sends a paper 

 on the desirable points of this tree for culture, to which attention is directed 

 in the Iowa Horticultural Report of 1SVS. 



