148 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



bent into any form of curve required, without injury to 

 the fibre. 



It is peculiar to the Ash that it has a very broad 

 sap-wood-j-comprising about forty annual rings — that 

 is to say, there is for a long time in the growth of the 

 timber no perceptible difference between the first-formed 

 and the later or outer layers ; since this sap-wood can 

 be utilised directly after seasoning, there is thus an 

 advantage in the employment of this description of 

 wood over that of most others for any of the purposes 

 for which it is adapted, as it can be utilised to the full 

 diameter of the tree. 



Ash is extremely durable if felled in the winter 

 months and properly seasoned before use ; but where 

 these precautions are neglected few woods are more 

 perishable. Very great advantage will be found in 

 reducing the Ash logs soon after they are felled into 

 plank or board for seasoning, since, if left for only a 

 short time in the round state, deep shakes open from 

 the surface, which involve a very heavy loss when 

 brought on later for conversion. 



Ash wood, when beginning to decay, changes at 

 the centre to a blackish colour, as also it will do if 

 the trees are pollarded or topped off during growth, 

 hence the " best quality " should be uniformly greyish- 

 white throughout. Such wood is invaluable for carriage 

 work, oars, and all purposes where elasticity and 

 strength are required. 



There are several varieties of the Ash which attain 

 timber size, and those which are raised for ornamental 

 purposes in this country are very numerous. This tree 

 is remarkable for its lateness in putting out its leaves in 

 the spring, and for throwing them off very early in the 

 autumn. 



