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THE MOUNTAIN ASH. 

 Pyrus aucuparia. 



Xatiiral Order — Rosace.^;. 

 Class — I c 0 s A N D R I A . Order — P e N t a (i Y x i a . 



This universally admired tree chooses its dwell- 

 ing, as its name would imply, in the wildest and 

 most exposed situations, where, though impatient 

 of "being itself sheltered by any other kind of 

 trees, it affords a friendly protection to grass and 

 other plants which choose to grow beneath its 

 shade. As long as it overtops its companions in 

 the wood or mountain side, it is a vigorous and 

 stately tree : but when it has attained its utmost 

 height, and its m.ore aspiring neighbours begin to 

 screen it from its due share of air and light, it 

 quietly retires from the contest, pines away in 

 confinement, and suffers itself to be destroyed by 

 the drip of the very trees that it formerly nursed 

 and protected. 



■ Hence we rarely meet with a full-grown ]\Ioun- 

 tain Ash in a crowded forest of ancient trees. 

 Where it has gained the vantage-ground of a 

 broken rock partially covered with rich, light 

 soil, or taken its stand in an open glade, amid 

 plants of humbler growth, it attains a consider- 

 able size. Or, again, in an elevated situation, 

 uncongenial to the rapid growth of its compa- 

 nions, but well suitecl to its own wild tastes 



