THE ASHES : THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 
45 
for filling in spots, when it is not convenient to get nursery stock, 
and when it is possible to dig them up from near-by spots where they 
are unnecessarily thick, and to transplant with great care. Wild 
stock seedlings to be planted in comparatively open spots must be 
taken from situations with similar shade conditions. Young (1 to 
3 years old), vigorous, straight seedlings, under 2 feet in height, 
should be secured if possible. For nursery-grown stock 1 to 2 year 
seedlings, 6 inches to 2 feet high, are preferable because cheaper, 
more easily planted, and usually more likely to succeed than older 
and larger stock. 
The general spacing for plants on cut-over areas has already been 
referred to (see p. 41). In general, 8 by 8 feet each way will be all 
right, with every other tree an ash, although on drier and poorer sites 
6 by 6 feet should be used. Where there is danger of suppression 
by undei growth or natural growth of any kiud, vigorous plants 2 to 4 
feet high (2 to 3 years old) should be used, but otherwise plants 
one-half to 2 feet in height (1 to 2 years old) will be sufficient. 
In planting fields and pastures the spacing should be 8 by 8 feet 
where it is possible to cultivate and to grow field crops several seasons 
between the rows; where not cultivated, 6 by 6 feet spacing (or 5 by 5 
if soil is dry) should be used, except on unusually moist fertile soil, 
where 7 by 7 or 8 by 8 is all right. It is possible to plant as few as 
one-quarter of the trees ash, and by subsequent favoring to make 
them form practically a pure stand. In this case every other row 
could be of another species, and the remaining rows of ash alternating 
with another species, which would result in the following number of 
ash trees for the different spacings: 
Ash plants 
Total 
per acre 
Spacing. 
plants per 
(one- 
acre. 
quarter of 
the total. 
Feet. 
5 by 5 
1,743 
436 
6 by 6 
1,210 
303 
7 by 7 
889 
222 
8 by 8 
G81 
170 
Table 19 gives the species suitable for planting with ash. 
