The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-11-23

what can be compared to the forest-Na-
ture's own sanctuary The noble col
umns rising boldly upwards unite together
their airy arches, and the passing wind.
like distant hymn. murmnrs in the 81
lence From the moss and flowers is shed
balmy freshness. while dew-drops. leaves
and blossoms quive- through the branches,
conducting the mind into the realm of
wonders. Snch is the summer forest
the silent retreat Of solitary thought.
But here, each single tree is also
shape full Of life and meaning. The rose
bush beside the cottage, the willow near
the fountain. or hanging mournfully over
the hillock above the silent grave, do not
these give such spots their peculiar charm
and consecrate their history Thus de-
lineated the trees have marked charac-
ter, no longer the body which botanist
merely dissects, or mere study in natu-
raj history, but contemplation. leading
and engaging the mind and the affections.
AS the most perfectly developed ami
mails have some decidedly marked type
a real personality Of their own-jnSt so.
to certain extent, may it be remarked Of
the greatest number Of trees. Each one
may be characterized by some popularity
it has life. Very different is the aspect
Of the oak on the mountain from the oak
in the valley; or the birch beside the
da~hing torrent and. the calm lake. A
clump of trees, or tree standing alone
or associated with Others, all present
scale of the most varied moods.
| have indulged in these associations
and reflections from visit to the remains
Of the old tree of Monmouth, New Jer-
sly. 1t stood upon the 6ne farm of the
Rev. G. G. Schanck, (Marlhoro' The
dominic | found to be good naturalist.
with a cabinet, and fond of this delight
full study, as every good man should be.
From him learned the particulars Of this
forest monarch. and hence they are au-
thpntic. 1t grew near his residence. and
this tulip tree was surpassed in size by
only one tree this side Of the Rocky Noun
tains, and that was the Elm recently
growing BY the bank Of the Gennesee
River. upon the late Gen Wadsa orih's
lands. 1t was said to have measured thir-
teen feet in diameter The Monmouth
tree stood upon the most elevated part of
an open field. unsheltered since the ori-
ginal forests were cleared awav. probably
m IRE than $50 years ago. For very
long time it remained alone in IFS majestic
strength and glory. The older inhabitants
assert that formerly similar one grew
near it, but. struck by lightning, died
A few years ago, this gigantic tree ex-
hibited vigorous growth. with its large
tnlip-shaped flowers and green foliage -
The trunk, the limbs, the top were all Of
proportionate size, SO as greatly 70 de-
ceive the eye in regard to its real magni-
tude, until near approach discovered its
immense dimensions 1t was cut down in
April last, the trunk perfectly round and
straight, and near the ground much en-
larged; its roots occupied space Of SO
feet in circumference, or diameter of II
feet 4 inches Above, it slightly and
gradually tapered to the limbs, measuring
% feet from the lowest. At one foot
above the earth its circumference was S4
feet inches; three feet, 81 feet inches;
at six. % feet 9 inches; at eighteen, it
was 90 feet around, averaging 80 feet in
height, the tree divided into FIVE branches
the larger measuring respectively 10, II,
l3, and Is feet inches 10 circumference,
One of them extended 60 feet from the
trunk. and with the opposite branch
made the distance Of 106 feet In another
direction. the top measured SO feet across
Its whole height reached about 10 feet.
The bark around the lower part Of the
trunk. or as far up as visitors could we'll
reach, has been abraded, and marked with
their initials or names, as they wished
thus to hand them down to posteriiy.-
Above, the bark remained in its natural
state, rising in furrowed or convexated
ridges. some four inches deep, and covered
with thin, fat lichens, presented the ap-
pearance Of having braved and stood the
rains and storms of past centuries. Since
cut down, the age Of this great tree is as
certained to have been about 225 years
The central part Of the trunk. for about
tHEct lScs III uidiuctoI, Wdo iuulu " DC
decayed, but the rest perfectly sound
Its stump measured eleven feet through
and it required the work of one man for
seven days to cut through this remarka-
BILE king of the forest, and the chips filled
five wagon loads
An entire section, of foot in thick
ness, sawed from the bottom of the tree,
was conveyed on two-horse team to the
college Of New Brunswick, for its cabinet;
but, like the Vicar Of Wakefeld's picture,
when it reached the destination, the door
was not high enough to admit the new
conner.
Wonderful tree What reverend his
tories hover about it! for it has outlived
generations of the red and the white man.
Here il grew, when Hudson. in the year
1909. first anchored the Half Moon within
Sandy Hook, not many miles distant, and
here it fourished quite near BY. during the
bloody and patriotic contest at Monmouth
more than three-quarters Of century
since. These gigantic fallen limbs and
trnnk now lvinp nrostrata hafDra mo