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THE planter's GUIDE. 



the better ; but later than that period will not be attended 

 with uniform success. 



The Ash has only two faults, which it is proper to 

 notice, as affecting transplantation, or at least the 

 extensive application of it, to this beautiful tree. The 

 one is, that the roots are so extremely fibrous, and occupy 

 the surface near it so completely, that there is little pab- 

 ulum or moisture left for any thing else. On which 

 account it is best grouped by itself, or perhaps with the 

 Oak, which penetrates still deeper into the earth. The 

 second fault is, that, as it acquires its leaves late, so it 

 unfortunately loses them early in the season — ^the reverse 

 of what we find in most trees ; and the leaA^es being much 

 more tender than those of others, receive a premature 

 impression from early frosts. Instead of contributing to 

 the variegated tints of autumnal foliage, it drops them at 

 once, and makes a dreary blank for weeks, where it 

 happens to predominate. There is yet another fault, or 

 rather misfortune, attending the Ash. Its leaf and rind 

 furnish the most delicious food for deer ; on which 

 account it is necessary to protect it with extraordinary 

 vigilance where that species of stock is kept. 



For the two reasons first mentioned, the Ash will be 

 found rather unfit for foregrounds, or the sides of dressed 

 walks, or for kept ground of any sort near the mansion 

 house. In the immediate neighbourhood of approaches^ 

 likewise, it would be advisable to introduce it sparingly, 

 and in any other very prominent part of a place. 



There is one peculiarly beautiful variety of this tree, 

 which I shall mention here, as it seems to have escaped 

 the notice of preceding writers — Professor Martin ex- 

 cepted — I mean the pendent Ash {F. excelsior ramis pen- 

 dalis) Every one must have observed the disposition to 

 pendency in the branches of the Ash, but still that they 



