Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-12-19


gineer. The stock at latest advices
was sold at twenty-five per cent.
premium.
Cause of Rings in Trees.
10 the Editors Of tho National lntclHgenooti
] have seen communication in
your paper in which the writer's at
tempt TO explain the cause of the
rings which exist in trees between
their centre and circumference,
wherein these rings are referred to
the annual seasons Of the age of the
tree by one of the gentlemen aud to
the influence Of the moon by the
other, who has affirmed that he has
examined trees the ages Of which
were known to him, and that they
have many more Of these rings than
they were years old.
am induced to doubt the correct
ness of this last statement,and would
have been more satisfied had he ma
med the kind Of trees referred to as
sustaining his view.
The fact that most of the trees Of
this country have these rings in equal
number to the years Of their growth
can be testified TO by all practical
surveyors and many others, aud that
they are correct can be demonstra-
tvu ny the uIatL- r~ado on uvvs 10
designate the lines and corners Of
tracts Of land described by surveys,
as they will always uniformly agree
in number of rings to the years that
have subsequently passed since the
survey marks were made, as can be
seen by the records.
In this way will they be found to
agree: A line or corner mark on a
tree, as scar, for instance, is found
on the bark of the tree. II this scar
or mark is cut out of the tree and
the number OF these rings be count
ed from the bark towards the inside
of the tree, until the outside OF the
cut made by the axe which made the
mark is come TO, these rings will be
found in equal number to the years
that have lranspired since the survey
was made. The original cut may
have passed through many Of these
rings, but the rings that were subse-
queutly added commenced at the
point where the bark was at the time
It was marked and the survey made.
The spaces intervening between
these rings, which by smaller circles
are parallel to the centre and circum-
ference of the tree, differ often in
width. The amount of this differ
ence will show unerrlngly the differ
ence III the character of temperature
Of the years that have passed-the
wider spaces indicating The years
that have been more, and the more
narrow those that have been less ia
vorable to the growth OF the tree.
1t is possible that in milder climate
or more southern latitude these rings
may not so truly designate the annual
growth of some trees, from their
growth not having been annually in
terrupted by any severity of low tenn
perature, as such is the fact in rela-
ton 10 the horns Of cattle, which,
like trees. after they in age are more
than three years, have in this climate,
a ring for every subsequent year
and their horns are shorter and small
Ter the further north they are or the
greater the altitude of their location.
But the more distant they are found
south, or in lower or mlder climate
the horns of cattle are found to be
longer and larger, until, for instance,
in Brazil, their horns are found to be
without any rings at all.
| am aware that in many vegeta-
bles, such as the beet and turnip &c,
which attain their full growth within
one year, similar rings exist. All d
the same crop agree in their number
of rings, however the beet or tufni[
may differ in size or vary in form
but to what cause which operates to
produce these rings and divide theii
constituents am at loss to account
Perhaps to the periods of night, as
varying seasons, or the changes OF
light or the moon, it may be attribu,
ted.
Yours, most respectfully,
L ca nNN M