1S6 



THE ASH. 



The Engiisli name of this tree is derived from 

 the Saxon ^^£sc. The common opinion, that it is 

 so called from the colour of its bark closely re- 

 sembling that of wood-ashes, is incorrect. 



Gilpin's description of its general character is^ 

 as usual^ accurate and truthful : *^ I have some- 

 times heard the Oak called the Hercules of the i 

 forest, and the Ash the Venus. The comparison ■ 

 is not amiss; for the Oak joins the ideas of 

 strength and beauty: while the Ash rather joins 

 the ideas of beauty and elegance. Virgil marks 

 the character of the Ash as peculiarly beautiful : 



' Fairest of forest-trees the Ash.'^ 



The Ash generally carries its principal stem 

 liigher than the Oak, and rises in an easy, flowing 

 line. But its chief beauty consists in the light- 

 ness of its whole appearance. Its branches at first 

 keep close to the trunk, and form acute angles 

 with it : but, as they begin to lengthen, they 

 generally take an easy sweep : and the looseness 

 of the leaves corresponding ^vith the lightness of 

 the spray, the whole forms an elegant depending 

 foliage. Xotliing can have a better eftect than 

 an old Ash hanging from the corner of a wood, 

 and bringing ofl' the heaviness of the other foliage 

 vdth its loose, pendent branches. And yet in 

 some soils, I have seen the Ash lose much of its 

 beauty in the decline of age. Its foKage becomes 

 rare and meagre ; and its branches, instead of 

 hanging loosely, often start away in disagreeable 

 forms. In short, the Ash often loses that gran- 

 deur and beauty in old age, which the generality 



* " Fraxiniis in svMs piilcherrima.'' 



