Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/147

123&#93; ASH ' ASH [123 this extent of ground, there are. . * . . . * . . . * . '. required 80,682 plants : two acres #. . . % . . . * . . . ^ and fourteen rod are planted at a. . # . . . ^ . . . * . . distance of t .vo f< et, by eight #■■•..'. # .,'. -^ .... ^« inches, which takes up 00, 400. . # . ., # ...... # . j plants. The reason for planting .v. ... # ... * ... .* twice as thick one way as the The ash, when young, requires other, is, that in such manner constant cultivation, for want of they arc innch easier to till. He which it will be stinted in its has ascertained by experience, that growth, and often remain for there is an essential difference be- twenty years together without tween wild ash and those which making any progress ; it is brought are trained : hence he advises all forward much sooner, when shel- the crooked ones to be rejected, and tered by other plants. particular attention to be paid in An improved method of plants getting the ash-keys. There is ing this tree, for hurdles, hoops, another advantage attending his laths, fencing, and what is termed plan, that potatoes may be planted post and billet for collieries, is de- between die rows. scribed by a correspondent in the The emulation excited by the fifth volume of the Papers publish- above and similar premiums, pro- ed by the Bath Soci duced seen effects as might be ex- The leaves of the ash appear late peeled to result from so extensive and fall early: it is therefore unfit and honourable a patronage. In to be planted for protection or or- the year 17.90, the gold medal of nament. Its timber ranks next in the Society was adjudged to Lewis value to the oak; and it Majendie, of Hedingham Castle, when sold, to be measured to a Esq. and the silver medal to H. much smaller girth than either oak G. Fausset, of Heppington, or elm. near Canterbury, Esq. The first The wood of ash possesses the mentioned gentleman planted on uncommon property of being ali seven acres and twenty-one poles, most uniformly good, whether of of a principally loamy soil, the star- young or old trees. It is hard, prizing number of nineteen thou- tough, and much used in making sand trees, of four and five years the different implements of old, at intervals of four feet. In a bandry, but particularly for hop- subsequent paper, Mr. M. recom- poles. Its ashes afford very good mends the. soil to be completely pot-ash j and the bark is ernploy- hed, previous to planting. — ed in tanning calf-skins. Tin Mr. Fausset intermixed willow are acrid and bitter, and the l< with his ash, and planted them at have been used for the adultera- the distance of three feet and a half, tion of tea. Poor people formerly in the proportion of three willows derived considerable advantage by to one ash ; so that, on the decay collecting them ; hut we undi r- of the sviliows,the ash plants remain stand this practice has been prohi- seven feet asunder, The follow- bind, as it tends to diminish the ing is a sketch of his method : the revenue. We may, however, ven- Mars denote the ash, and the dots tine to say, that the leaves of the the willows-plants, ash are as wholesome as those of the