138 



THE ASH. 



well drained : by the banks of sweet and crystal 

 rivers and streams I have observed them to thrive 

 infinitely."* 



The young plants are readily distinguished 

 from other saplings, in winter and early spring, 

 by their ash-coloured tint, their remarkable black 

 buds, and the flattened or compressed shape of 

 the twigs, a peculiarity which is most perceptible 

 near the terminal pair of buds. In summer, the 

 leaves are a no less certain distinguishing cha- 

 racter. They are technically termed pinnate, 

 and are composed of about five pairs of acute, 

 notched leaflets, with a terminal odd one, which 

 last is occasionally not developed. 



The foliage of the Ash is very late in making- 

 its appearance : consequently in early spring it 

 cannot compete in beauty with other forest trees 

 which are less sluggish in donning their green 

 attire. It is equally remarkable, too, for the ear- 

 liness of the season at which it sheds its foliage. 



Its leaf is much tenderer than that of the 

 Oak, and sooner receives impressions from the 

 winds and frost. Instead of contributing its tint, 

 therefore, in the wane of the year, among the 

 many-coloured offspring of the woods, it shrinks 

 from the blast, drops its leaf, and in each scene 

 where it predominates, leaves wide blanks of 

 desolated boughs, amidst foliage yet fresh and 

 verdant. Before its decay, we sometimes see its 

 leaf tinged with a fine yellow, well contrasted 

 with the neighbouring greens. But this is one 

 of Nature's casual beauties. Much oftener its 

 leaf decays in a dark, muddy, unpleasing tint. 

 And yet sometimes, notwithstanding this early 



* Evelyn's Sylva. 



