The Manchurian ash is the representative of the common ash in eastern Asia, and is very similar in appearance to F. nigra,’ being mainly distinguishable by the longer points to the leaflets, which are more tapering at the base, often shortly stalked, and usually more sharply serrate. (A.H.)
F. mandshurica is widely spread throughout Manchuria, Amurland, Korea, Saghalien, and Japan, and is a large tree, Ruprecht having measured specimens at the mouth of the Ussuri 12 feet in girth.
In Japan this fine ash is known as yachidamo, and is one of the commonest trees in Hokkaido, but is only known to occur in the north of the main island. I did not see it in Aomori or Akita. It seems to grow best in Hokkaido in the deep rich flats of black alluvial soil which are now being rapidly brought under cultivation by the Japanese settlers, but even here seldom attains the dimensions of the European ash; the average size of the trees in the virgin forests being from 80 to 100 feet high by 6 to 8 feet in girth, though no doubt, if they had room to spread they would grow much thicker than this. The general habit of the tree and of its leaves and seed is very similar to that of F. excelsior, and the wood also seems similar, but it is not apparently used for the same purposes as in Europe. A great quantity of it is made into railway sleepers, which are now being exported largely to Korea and China, and which, if I can judge from what I saw on the Hokkaido railroads, will not last very long unless creosoted. There is, however, a particularly handsome variety of this wood, which seems to be found only near the butt and on the outside of old trees growing in damp places, which goes by the name of Tamu, and which, if known in Europe would certainly command a high price for veneers. A large wardrobe, which has been made for me from Japanese woods, is fronted with veneer cut from a billet of this wood, which I brought home in 1904, and is extremely handsome; showing a figure like that of the best Hungarian ash but of a pale pinkish-brown colour. This wood is much used in Japan for veneering railway carriages, for doors, and for the posts used for supporting and for fitting the sliding screens of Japanese houses. It is liable to warp, however, and requires very careful seasoning to prevent cracking.
F. mandshurica was introduced* at Kew in 1891 from the St. Petersburg Botanic Garden ; but only one plant now survives, which has a stunted and unhealthy appearance. Like many plants from Manchuria and Amurland, the foliage appears early in the spring, and is badly injured by late frosts every year. I have raised seedlings from seed sent me from Japan by Professor Shirasawa, but they are too young to judge of the probable success of the tree in England.
Sargent, however, says * that this tree has proved perfectly hardy in the Arnold Arboretum, where it has been introduced for some years. He considers it one of the noblest of all the ashes, and one of the most valuable timber trees of Eastern Asia. None of the other ashes of Japan, so far as I saw, attain any great size, or are likely to have any economic value in Europe. (H.J.E.)
1 Lingelsheim, in Engler, Bot, Jahrb. xl. 223 (1907), unites this species with F. nigra, of which he considers the Manchurian tree to be only a geographical variety.
2 The St. Petersburg plants were probably raised from seed from Amurland. Cf. Gartenflora, xxvii. 13 (1879).
3 Forest Flora of Japan, 52 (1894).
