Fig. 237. Transverse section of ash wood, 3/1.

Fig. 237.-Transverse section of ash wood, 3/1. (Hartig.)

Ash (Figs. 237, 245) has a wide range of uses because it is at once hard, strong, stiff, tough, straight-grained, easily split, often beautifully figured, and susceptible of a good polish. It ranks among the most valued woods for interior finish, furniture, parts of implements, machines, harness, carriages, wagons, cars, and ships; and for staves, hoops, oars, tool-handles, clothes-pins, and various toys.

Fig. 245. White Ash (Fraxinus americana, Olive Family, Oleaceoe). Leaf, about 1/3. Fruit cluster. Fruit. (Britton and Brown.) Tree growing 40 m. tall; bark gray, furrowed; leaves dark green above; flowers bronze green; fruit buff. Native home, Eastern North America.

Fig. 245.-White Ash (Fraxinus americana, Olive Family, Oleaceoe). Leaf, about 1/3. Fruit-cluster. Fruit. (Britton and Brown.)-Tree growing 40 m. tall; bark gray, furrowed; leaves dark green above; flowers bronze-green; fruit buff. Native home, Eastern North America.