Ash, Fraxinus excelsiorMany cultivars are available including leaf variants and pendulous forms. Sources of seed and plants Grows throughout Britain but is less common in the extreme north of Scotland. The finest trees and stands are found in the Welsh borders, southern and western England. Individual trees bear largely male, female or hermaphrodite flowers and those with male flowers often have the best stem form. Seed trees must have straight stems and small branches. Silviculture A light demanding, pioneer species best grown in mixture with sycamore, beech, the oaks, the limes and Wych elm. Soil types Prefers moist, fertile soils with pH above 5.5 (a good indicator is wild garlic); will tolerate clays, but not dry slopes with thin soils. Rate of growth and yield Young trees grow quickly with upward-slanting branches to give a rounded crown. In woodlands the stem is straight and cylindrical. Grows rapidly up to 40 years, then increment falls off. Diameter increments of 4 to 16 rings per 25 mm are suitable for most purposes. Trees older than 100 years often are unthrifty in Britain. Commonly attains heights of 25 to 30 metres and diameters of' 60 to 150 cms with clear boles of' 10 to 15 metres. Protection and resistance Ash is frequently cankered, the causes being frost, fungi or bacteria; such trees should be removed in thinnings. The ash bud moth, Prays curtisellus, causes forking of the leading shoot of trees up to 5 metres tall. Late spring frosts can also damage the leading shoots. Ash is often free from damage by grey squirrels but is not immune. It is damaged by rabbits and hares and is severely browsed by deer. Withstands exposure to salt-bearing winds and is resistant to atmospheric pollution. It is sensitive to pulverised fuel ash. Establishing and tending All common sizes of planting stock establish well but ash cannot compete with matted grass. It fruits freely and coppices well from young stumps. Timber properties A ring porous timber with coarse texture, white to light brown in colour. Dark brown or black heart is not associated with loss of strength or disease but is disliked by timber users. The sapwood is not well defined and the heartwood is perishable and moderately resistant to preservatives. Generally straight grained. The weight averages 690 kg/m' seasoned and clear timber is outstandingly tough, excellent for wood bending and good for staining and polishing. Kiln dries fairly rapidly but tends to distort. Amenity value A beautiful and dignified tree, much planted in rural and urban areas. Conservation The keys are eaten by birds and small mammals. Timber value Selected timber is used for sports goods, tool handles, furniture, interior panelling, road vehicles, agricultural implements and boat building. Branchwood makes excellent firewood. Economic appraisal A very valuable lowland tree which also succeeds in the uplands on fertile brown earths. Should be grown in mixture with beech, gean, oak, sycamore and larch on rotations of 45 to 50 years. Must be regularly thinned to encourage large free crowns and rapid diameter increment. The timber can be sold in all sizes from small roundwood to sawlogs. |
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