561. The common ash is a native of Europe, the north of Asia, and is to be found in Great Britain, from the north of Scotland to the south of England, and almost in all cases on good deep soil. It is the most valuable of the genus Fraxinus.

The ash is a very rapid growing tree, and, like the chestnut, the young wood is much more valuable than that of old trees. No timber varies more with the soil and situation than the ash. The mean size of the trunk is, according to Hassenfratz, 38 feet in length and 23 inches in diameter; but sometimes this tree attains an immense size.

Ash soon rots when exposed to either damp or alternate dryness and moisture, hut is tolerably durable in a dry situation. Evelyn says, the best season for felling ash is from November to February, and that when felled in full sap it is very subject to the worm. The pores of ash cut in the spring are of a reddish colour, and such wood is much benefited by water-seasoning.

Ash is superior to any other British timber for its toughness and elasticity; and in consequence of these properties, it is useful wherever sudden shocks are to be sustained; as in various parts of machines, wheel-carriages, implements of husbandry, ship blocks, tools, and the like; being equally as useful in the arts of war as in those of peace, in ancient as well as in modern times:

"From Pelion's cloudy top, an ash entire Old Chiron fell'd, and shap'd it for his sire."

Pope's Homer.

It is too flexible for the timbers of buildings, and not sufficiently durable.

The colour of the wood of old trees is oak-brown, with a more veined appearance, and the veins darker than in oak; sometimes the wood is very beautifully figured. The wood of young trees is brownish white with a shade of green.

Its texture is alternately compact and porous, the compact side of the annual rings being darker coloured, which renders them very distinct. It has no larger rays, and consequently it is- without the flowered appearance possessed by other timber, such as oak.

It has neither taste nor smell, and is difficult to work, except the wood of old trees, which is of a more brittle nature.

The cohesive force of a square inch varies from 6300 to 17,000 lbs.; and the weight of its modulus of elasticity is about 1,525,500 lbs. per square inch. The weight of a cubic foot dry varies from 34 to 52 lbs.; when the weight of a cubic foot is lower than 45 lbs., the wood is that of an old tree, and will be found deficient both in strength and toughness.

It exceeds oak both in strength and toughness, and in young wood the difference is still more considerable.