SPBAY AND FOLIAGE. 145 



The spray of the Ash is very different. As the 

 boughs of the Ash are less complex, so is its spray. 

 Instead of the thick, intermingled bushiness which 

 the spray of the Oak exhibits, that of the Ash is 

 much more simple, running in a kind of irregular 

 parallels. The main stem holds its course, form- 

 ing at the same time a beautiful sweep ; but the 

 spray does not divide like that of the Oak, from 

 the extremity of the last year's shoot, but springs 

 from the sides of it. Two shoots spring out 

 opposite to each other, and each pair in a con- 

 trary direction. Rarely, however, both the shoots 

 of either side come to maturity; one of them is 

 commonly lost as the tree increases, or, at least, 

 makes no appearance in comparison with the 

 other, which takes the lead. So that, notwith- 

 standing this natural regularity of growth, (so 

 injurious to • the beauty of the Spruce Fir and 

 some other trees), the Ash never contracts the 

 least disgusting formality from it. It may even 

 receive great picturesque beauty, for sometimes 

 the whole branch is lost as far as one of the 

 lateral shoots, and this occasions a kind of 

 rectangular junction, which forms a beautiful 



