The Ash. 



regions ofAmericfi; but it appears to be a tree of great 

 beauty, and to be well worthy the attention of those wlio 

 delight in beautiful plantations. 



140. CAROLINIAN ASH. Fraxinus Platicarpa.—Thii^, 

 which closes my list of Ash trees, is very distinctly charac- 

 terized by the form of its seeds, which are much broader, 

 and more flat than those of the seeds of any other sort of 

 Ash. The leaves are much broader than even those of the 

 White Ash; and the colour of its bark is of a greenish 

 yellow ; but it rises to a height seldom exceeding thirty 

 feet; and, though a very beautiful tree, is not, as Michaux 

 tells us, esteemed like the other Ashes, for the properties 

 of its wood. Its seeds come up the first year ; and it grows 

 very fast while young. 



141. I have mentioned all these different sorts of the 

 Ash tree, because many readers may like to be in possession 

 of all of them ; but, as subjects for plantations made for 

 profit, I recommend the English Ash, or the American 

 Whtfe Ash by preference, when that can be obtained. In 

 all cases, where you are uncertain as to whether the seeds 

 will come up the first year or not, it is the best way to 

 sow them in the spring of the next year, after they have 

 been gathered in the preceding year. If you happen to be 

 late in the season, it is a good way to steep the seeds for 

 two or three days in a tub, in water poured upon the seeds 

 w^hen it is pretty hot; not scalding hot, but rather hotter 

 than you like to bear your hand in. Cover the tub over 

 when you have put in the water; let the seeds remain 

 soaking for about three days and three nights ; then sow 

 them, in the manner directed for sowing the seed of the 

 English Ash ; break the ground very fine over them, press 

 it down upon them with great care ; and, if the weather 



