The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-21
TFoE THE WESTERN DEMOCRAT.
Large Trees.


in York District, S. c., rear Carothers' Ferry.
1t is stated that it measured II feet, inches, in
circumference, two and half feet from the
ground, where the bark was round and smooth,
aud appeared to be at least so feet to the first
limb. The inquiry is then made, ais not this
the largest tree In this section of country. and
does it not approach the size of the celebrated
trees in California about which so much has been
published" For the information of those who
may take an interest in the huge and lofty pro-
auctions of the forest, permit ME to present, IN
the columns Of your paper, few well-authentl-
Gated facts connected with the history of large
trees in different portions of the world.
The poplar, or tulip tree, the sycamore, several
species of pine, and ether trees of rapid growth,
are frequently found on water-courses, and
more particularly on the rich alluvial bottoms of
the Mississippi and it's tributaries, of surprising
dimensions. The poplar, above alluded to. Is
undoubtedly fine old occupant of the soil ter
this section of country-has been well fed by
.mother earth"--is much older than that ubiqul
tous character, 1.-The oldest inhabitant' among
men, and should command the admiration of
every visitor. But Notwithstanding these add
missions touching its greatness it falls far short
of other denizens of the forest in California, and
on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Noun
tans. One of the largest of these California
trees, (Tnrodium,) known as the Father of the
Forest" and which was blown down many years
ago, during a Storm is thus described: 1t meas
ured AZ feet in circumference 300 feet from the
base at which point it broke short off in its fall
It was estimated to have attained the height Of
$50 feet. 1t contained a chamber, or burnt
cavity for the distance of 200 feet, brc ad and
high enough Tor person to pass through on
horseback. 1t was, when standing, colossal
pillar of timber which overtopped most of the
lofty structures of man, and probably all other
trees ON the globe Such display of arborcal
greatness could not fail to command the silent
admiration and wonder of every thanking, set
con,n,unjnJ visitor. What a giant production to
have sprung from one little seed less in size than
a grain of wheat Several Others but little in
feror in size, grow in the immediate vicinity.
Another species, found by travellers in the State
cnce of 118 feet Two other individuals were
also noticed by Humboldt, upwards of forty years
ngo, near Chaputepec, measuring respectively SO
and 80 feet in circumference. These, he sug-
gests, were the survivors of an ancient garden
pleasure ground of Montezuma. The Cali
fornia red wood (Sequoia) and several species of
pine, in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains and
on the banks of the Columbia River. attain as
tonishing dimensions. One of these pines proved
by exact measurment to be 574 feet in girth,
three feet from the ground. The elm Uhnrs
An'ericana) has many large representatives. prin-
'cIpally in the Northern States. The enc on
Boston Common is conspicuous object for size
and symmetrical proportions 1t has basal
measurement Of % feet The sycamore (Platn-
nus dcctdent0Ls) attains gigantic Dimensions
One, near Marietta, Ohio, was described, many
years ago, as measuring 151 feet in diameter
The hollow trunk of another enormous sycamore
was handsomely furnished, and made use of at
Utica, n. Y, a retail shop and afterwards
carried to the city of New York for show The
VOW also attans great size and age. One of
these, near Stanes, in England, is older than the
meeting of the barons at Runnymede, where
they compelled King John to grant Magma
Charta. 1t has a circumference of about 80 feet
According to Decandolle. the yew of Braborne in
the county of Kent is thirty centuries old. and
has a circumference of 60 feet. Another ind-
ylduas at Hedsor is 80 feet in circumference. In
the Island Of Teneriffe there is dragon tree
ldracdena) which has long been known. and
greatly admired Humboldt measured it in
1899, and found it to be 45 feet in girth little
above its roots In 1902, when the Island was
conquered by Bcthancourt, it was then repre-
sented to have nearly its present size. During
the dog days there flows from its trunk liquor
OF deep red color. like blood, which soon con-
cretes, and becomes dry and brittle. This is the
true dragons blood of the shops. But alas.
late account informs us this noble tree has fallen
down and Is no more. The bdnldn, or burr tree
(Ffcus iadica) is one of the most curious and
beautiful productions of nature. Each tree is in
itself grove, being composed of numerous stems
which are connected together-some of them
hasing the size of large tree. A celebrated
bdn6an stands Oh an Island in Hindostan. 1t is
said by the natives to be 5000 years old. It is
described by Milton in his Paradise Lost" and
IL supposed by some to be the same that was
visited by Nearchus, an officer of Alexander the
Treat. Many other large trees growing in diff
ierent portions of the United States and Europe
might be mentioned, but it is deemed unneces-
sary to present a more extended enumeration.
Several years ago it was stated in one of our
newspapers that there is an oak tree near Raj
eigh q. c., which, at the suns meridian. covers
with shade space of 5000 square feet 1t
would afford shelter for 1900 men" Will some
one residing in that place (''the city of oaks")
inform us whether this large oak is still alive
n quiet tenant of the soil claiming local habi-
tation ana a name" or is it now only remembered
as an object of fallen greatness? Since the sub
ject of large trees has been introduced. would it
not be well for Southern and Western editors to
make the proper inquiries relative TO our native
gigantic productions, and furnish the public with
the result of their Investigations. In this way
many curious and interesting facts might be
brought to light, and our knowledge of the
patriarchs of the forest frequently concealed from
view: be greatly extended. C. L. II.
-
rJ The world ID gradually outgrowing ;'thc
learned professions" The community is over
stocked with lawyers and doctors. Many of these