UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
1 BULLETIN No. 299 
JC#"^^L 
Contribution from the Forest Service 
HENRY S. GRAVES, Forester 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER. 
December 13, 1915 
THE ASHES: THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND 
MANAGEMENT. 
By W. D. Sterrett, Forest Examiner. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Importance 1 
Lumber cut 2 
Use by industries 4 
Groups and species 6 
Siivicultural significance 9 
Relative importance of species 11 
Occurrence 13 
Soil, moisture, and light requirements 17 
Reproduction ' 19 
Injuries 23 
Form and development 25 
Page. 
Yields 32 
Value of standing timber 34 
Forest management 36 
Rotation , 39 
Species for timber growing 39 
Natural v. artificial reforestation 40 
Reforesting by natural means 41 
Reforesting by artificial means 44 
Thinnings 4S 
Summary 51 
Appendix 52 
f: 
IMPORTANCE OF ASH FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT. 
The ash genus (Fraxinus), containing 18 or more native species, 
is of considerable importance for forest management in the United 
States. Because of its fine qualities, which make it valuable in the 
handle, butter-tub, vehicle, boat-oar, athletic goods, and other in- 
dustries, and because the supply is limited and the annual output 
small, ash timber of good grade commands a high, price. The tree 
lends itself readily to both natural and artificial reproduction, has 
a good rate of growth under proper conditions, responds well to 
thinnings made to increase its growth, and is comparatively free 
from destructive attacks of insects and diseases. It is probably 
more desirable than the other common heavy hardwoods — oak, 
hickory, maple, birch, and beech— for commercial timber growing 
on sites to which it is adapted, as it is merchantable when smaller 
and is usually higher priced and faster growing. It will be one of 
the first woods the demand for which will exceed the supply. Handle 
producers as a class feel that they will soon be facing a serious shortage 
of ash timber, and have as yet been unable to find anything to take 
its place satisfactorily. , 
6023°— Bull. 299—15 1 
