Cultivation of Ash. 



147 



mature exhaustion of vital energy through the soil being 

 unable to supply its normal requirements as to mineral food 

 and moisture. Its root-system is both deep and broad, 

 though Ash will thrive well on soils, otherwise suitable, which 

 are hardly deep enough to permit the Oak to attain its finest 

 development. Fortunately for its cultivation, the Ash can 

 often, during the earlier stages of growth, thrive under stan- 

 dards having light canopy and thus protecting it from frost ; 

 but later on, and especially as it approaches maturity, it 

 becomes intolerant even of shade from the side tending to 

 interfere with the impulse it then manifests strongly towards 

 lateral extension of its crown of foliage. Owing to its strong* 

 demand for 'light, and its inability to protect the soil ade- 

 quately against deterioration through the action of sun and wind, 

 Ash is unsuited for the formation of pure forests or even for 

 forming large groups or clumps produced either artificially 

 or from suckers and stool-shoots, except perhaps where Ash- 

 beds are exceptionally profitable through local demand for 

 hop-poles and the like. Even on moist, low-lying situations 

 specially favourable for its growth, it thrives best when grown 

 singly as isolated trees or else merely in small knots and 

 patches. 



No situation is better fitted for growing Ash for profit than 

 the sides of moist dells and chines having a good, strong, 

 loamy or clayey soil, through which the moisture from above 

 gradually percolates. This is much better than stagnating 

 subsoil moisture, which is even detrimental unless a full, hot, 

 southern exposure stimulate to evaporation and strong trans- 

 piration through the leaves ; and even in dells and hollows 

 on the hill-sides the best and largest trees will usually be 

 found in the lowest and most sheltered positions, where the 

 soil is richest. 



Hitherto, in Britain, the Ash has chiefly been grown as a 

 hedge-row tree. Here it secures complete exposure to light 

 and air, while its toughness ensures it against being thrown 

 or broken by wind. But in such positions it is apt, when 

 advancing in age, to throw out long superficial roots, which 

 spread into the fields, rob the soil of moisture and of nutrients 

 otherwise available for the agricultural crops, and interfere 



