642 ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 
whatever, in cultivation in British plantations, is more injurious to plants 
growing undet it, from its numerous fibrous roots, which, rising close to the 
surface, exhaust the soil, and prevent the vegetation of almost every other 
plant, except those that have also fibrous roots. It always grows best in good, 
somewhat calcareous soil; which, though not boggy, is generally adjoining 
water. The most profitable age for felling the ash appears to be from 80 to 
100 years, but it will continue pushing from stools or from pollards, for above 
100 years. The timber of the ash is very elastic ; so much so, that a joist 
of this timber will bear more before it breaks than one of that of any other 
tree indigenous to Europe. It weighs, per cubic foot, 64 1b. 9 oz. when green, 
and 49 lb. 80z. when dry. The value of the timber is increased by the rapi- 
dity of its growth; and, as in the case of the sweet chestnut, the wood of 
young trees is more esteemed than that of old ones. Since the use of iron 
became so general in the manufacture of instruments and machines, the value 
of the ash is somewhat diminished, at least in Britain; it still, however, ranks 
next in value to that of the oak, and is held even to surpass it for some pur- 
poses. It is much in use by the coachmaker, the wheelwright, and the manu- 
facturer of agricultural implements. It is highly valued for kitchen tables and 
steps of stairs, as it may be scoured better than any other wood, and is not 
so liable to run splinters into the scourer’s fingers. Young ash is particularly 
valuable for hop-poles, hoops, crates, handles to baskets, rods for training plants, 
forming bowers, for light hurdles, and for wattling fences; and also for walk- 
ingsticks. The species is always propagated by seeds, and the varieties by 
grafting. The samaras, or keys, are generally ripe in October; when they 
should be gathered, and taken to the rotting-ground, where they should be 
mixed with light sandy earth, and laid in a heap of a flat form, not more than 
10 in. thick, in order to prevent them from heating. Here they should be 
turned over several times in the course of the winter; and in February they 
may be removed, freed from the sand by sifting, and sown in beds in any mid- 
dling soil. The richness or quality of the soil is of little consequence ; but it 
should be well broken by the rake, and the situation should be open, to pre- 
vent the plants from being drawn up too slender. The seeds may be deposited 
at the distance of half an inch every way, and covered a quarter of an inch 
with soil. Sown in February they will come up in May or jane, 
+ 2. F. (g.) neteropuy’Lia Vahl. The various-leaved Ash. 
Identification. Vahl Enum., 1. p. 53.; Don’s Mill, 4. p. 54. 
Synonymes. F. simplicifdlia IV2lid. Sp. 4. p. 1098. ; F. monophYlla Desf. Arb. 1. p. 102.; F. sim- 
plicifdlia Hort. ; F. excélsior @ diversi- 
folia Ait.; F. excélsior var. ¢ Lam. 
Dict. 2. p. 554. ; F. excélsior @ hetero- 
phflla Dec. ; F. integrifdlia and diver- 
sifolia Hort. 
Engravings. Eng. Bot., t. 2476. ; the 
plate of this tree in Arb. Brit., Ist 
edit., vol. vi. ; and our jig. 1249. 
Spec. Char., $c. Leaves simple 
or trifoliate, dentately ser- 
rated. Samara oblong-lance- 
olate, Lin. long, obtuse and 
emarginate at the apex. 
Leaves usually simple, but 
sometimes with 3 or 5 leaflets 
38—4 in. long, ovate, sub- 
cordate, or acuminate at the 
base and apex. Branches 
dotted. Buds black. (Don’s 
Mill.) A tree, attaining nearly 
the same dimensions as the 
common ash, and without 
doubt only a variety of it. 1948s F(a nari: 
