Wood and Forest Part 30

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tangential Section, life size.]

65

BLUE ASH.

Blue, refers to blue dye obtained from inner bark.

_Fraxinus quadrangulata_ Michaux.

_Fraxinus_, from a Greek word (_phraxis_) meaning split, refers to the cleavability of the wood; _quadrangulata_, refers to four-angled branchlets.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habitat.]

HABITAT: (See map); best in lower Wabash valley.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Leaf.]

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 60'-70', even 120'; diameter, 1'-2'; tall, slender, four-angled, branchlets; bark, light gray, irregularly divided into large plate-like scales, inside bark, bluish, yielding dye; leaves, 8"-12" long, compound pinnate, 5 to 9 leaflets; fruit, winged samaras in panicles.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light yellow, streaked with brown, sap-wood lighter; ring-porous; rings, clearly marked by 1 to 3 rows of large, open ducts; grain, straight; rays, numerous, obscure.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Heavy (16th in this list); 44 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp. gr., 0.7184; strong (37th in this list); elasticity, medium (58th in this list); hard (12th in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps, ............; most durable of the ashes; hard to work; splits readily, bad for nailing.

COMMON USES: Carriage building, tool handles.

REMARKS: Blue ash pitchfork handles are famous.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Radial Section, life size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tangential Section, life size.]

66

RED ASH.

Red, from color of inner bark.

_Fraxinus pennsylvanica_ Marshall. _Fraxinus p.u.b.escens_ Lambert.

_Fraxinus_, from a Greek word (_phraxis_) meaning split, refers to the cleavability of the wood; _pennsylvanica_, in honor of the State of Pennsylvania; _p.u.b.escens_, refers to down on new leaves and twigs.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habitat.]

HABITAT: (See map); best east of Alleghany mountains.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Leaf.]

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 40'-60'; diameter, 12"-18"; small, slim, upright branches; bark, brown or ashy, great, shallow, longitudinal furrows; leaves, 10"-12" long, pinnately compound, 7 to 9 leaflets, covered with down; fruit, single samara.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light brown, sap-wood lighter and yellowish; ring porous; rings, marked by pores; grain, straight, coa.r.s.e; rays, numerous, thin.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, medium (28th in this list); 39 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp. gr., 0.6251; strong (30th in this list); elasticity, medium (53d in this list); hard (17th in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps little; not durable; hard to work; splits in nailing.

COMMON USES: Agricultural implements, oars, handles, boats.

REMARKS: Often sold with and as the superior white ash.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Radial Section, life size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tangential Section, life size.]

67

WHITE ASH.

White, refers to whitish color of wood.

_Fraxinus americana_ Linnaeus.

_Fraxinus_, from a Greek word (_phraxis_) meaning split, refers to the cleavability of the wood.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Habitat.]

HABITAT: (See map); best in the bottom lands of lower Ohio valley.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Leaf.]

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 70'-80', even 120'; diameter, 3'-6'; branches rather high, tree singularly graceful; bark, gray, narrow furrows, clean, neat trunk; leaves, 8"-15" long, compound, tufted, smooth, turns in autumn to beautiful purples, browns and yellows; fruit, panicles of samaras, persistent till midwinter.

APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light reddish brown, sap-wood whitish; ring-porous, rings clearly marked by pores; straight-grained; pith rays obscure.

PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Heavy (22d in this list); 39 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp.

gr., 0.6543; strong (31st in this list); elastic (30th in this list); hard (17th in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps little; not durable in contact with soil; hard and tough; splits readily, nails badly.

COMMON USES: Inside finish, farm implements, barrels, baskets, oars, carriages.

REMARKS: Forms no forests, occurs scattered. Its uses for handles and oars determined by combination of strength, lightness and elasticity.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Radial Section, life size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.]