THE ASH. 



145 



of the same species. So firmly indeed are the 

 keys attached to the twig, that not only may the 

 tree be discriminated in winter by its bunches of 

 brown seeds ; but it is far from unusual to see 

 the ragged remnants of the previous year mixed 

 up with the fresh flowers and foliage. 



The Ash is liable to a disease in its inflores- 

 cence which deserves to be noticed. It occurs 

 in either particular trees or seasons ; the whole 

 flower-bud, without expanding at all, becomes an 

 irregular, solid mass, and of course does not ripen 

 its seeds. 



It has been observed already, that the season 

 at which the Ash sheds its leaves varies consider- 

 ably in different individuals. It is also worthy 

 of remark, that individual trees also vary greatly 

 in the quantity of seeds produced, and that those 

 which bear but few' seeds compensate for their 

 sterility, by a greater profusion of foliage, which 

 they also retain until a much later period in the 

 year. This phenomenon may be explained on the 

 ground that when there is an abundant produce 

 of seed, the tree reserves its energies in order to 

 mature them, consequently the foliage is thrown 

 off early in the autumn : but when there is no 

 such demand for the nourishment of seed, the 

 tree expends all its vigour on the leaves, which 

 are consequently numerous, and so healthy as to 

 be little affected by the early frosts of autumn.* 



By the facility of transit which its winged 



* My readers, if they have had any experience in gardening, must 

 be well aware that this law applies to most, if not all, plants that come 

 under their care. A liealtly state of foliage is indispensable to the pro- 

 duction of perfect flowers and fruit ; anything more than this has a 

 contrary effect ; a superabundance of leaves, being usually attended by 

 a defective produce of both flowers and fruit. 



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