The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-06-23

/ be in Australia. A fallen tree in Gippsland
measures four hundred and thirty-five feet in
/ length and in the Victoria section two forest
! monsters are now standing, one of which is
! estimated to be two hundred and thirty five,
and the other four hundred and fifty feet in
/ height
! In Skowhegan, Maine, th ere is an immense
russell apple-tree, over four and one half feet
/ in diameter. 1t was planted in 1862. Seven
| feet from the ground five huge branches put
! forth, each averaging some thirty five feet in
/ length, The entire top is about sixty three
/ feet across and the average yield of apples
has been about thirty bushels yearly.
In 1925, an enormous black walnut tree
blew down near the light of the present vii
/ lage of Silver Creek, in Southwestern New
York. 1t was hollow and eighteen feet of
the but-end was sawed off, rooted over, and
fitted for saloon. Ten OF twelve persons
could easily stand within at the same time
Although so majestic in proportions, the shell
was thin and light and, after remaining for
some time as the wonder of the region it was
carried to several of our Atlantic cities
where it drew crowds daily, and, ultimately
it was transported across the ocean, and ex-
hibited in London, Paris, and other Euro
pean cities, where it was represented as
specimen of American vegetation.
The largest chestnut-tree in the country is
said to be growing on the farm of Solomon
Merkle, in Berks county, Pennsylvania 1t
is described as being forty feet in eircumfer-
ence at the base, and is estimated to contain
seventeen cords of wood. Steps are fasten-
ed between the limbs, by means of which an
aoS ha rp Ton
Trees of enormous proportions are men,
toned by the ancient writers among which
were the far-famed cedaIs of Lebanon. The
mountain was probably once covered with
giant forest composed of this noble tree but
when Solomon built his great temple thirty
thousand men were sent among them with
their axes, and the glory OF the renowned
Lebanon forest was soon Ieveled to the dust.
Only few specimens are now left standing,
and these are probably much smaller than
some Of those cut for the temple The larg-
est tees now growing upon the spot NAV
perhaps be twelve or fifteen feet in diameter,
and about one hundred feet in hei ght at a
short distance above the ground large spread
ing branches put forth giving the tree som e.
bre and heavy appearance. The top most
branches bear small cones similar to those of
the common pine. The wood works free
and easy, and is very lasting The Temple
of Diana, famous as one of the seven won
ders of the world, was also built of cedar
Pliny tells us of a hollow tree in which Lu-
can, the Roman consul, and twenty soldiers,
ate their supper and slept through the night.
One of the most majestic Of trees is the
mahogany. It is not tall tree but is heavy
and massive, and its great arms spread a
sOmbre curtain over such vast area, that
the most pondeTous oaks of the forest appear
insignificant in comparison. It often grows
in the most inaccessible situations, aud the
best timber is procured only by great diff
Guilty. The largest log ever cut in Honduras
was when squared, seventeen feet long, four
feet and Dine inches wide, five feet and four
inches thick, measured five thousand one
hundred and sixty-eight feet, board measure,
and weighed fifteen tons. Its uses are well
known. The wood is firm and solid, and
susceptible of high degree of polish. Some
times, when the grain is unusually beautiful
it commands a very high price. On ore oc-
casiOn, we are told that three logs, thirty
eight inches square, and fifteen feet long,
brought fifteen thousand dollars. The wood,
which was of exquisite beauty and cIoseness,
was cut up into thin veneers for the most
costly piano-fortes.
The celebrated taxodium, of Uhapultepec,
in Mexico, was one hundred and seventeen
feet in circumference and was thought to be
over five thousand years old.
The largest tree of which history furnishes
any record is the great chestnut tree of
Mount 1Etna. 1t was said to be sixty-fouI
feet in diameter; and so great was its re.
nown that it was marked in all the ancient
maps. AS late as 1770, when it was visited
by Brydone. the interior of the huge trunk
was all decayed and it was divided into sew
eral monster trees, with bark and branches
only on the outer side though traces of its
having once been united in one prOdigiOus
forest monarch were plainly apparent, both
above and below the surface. Later pub
lie road was made through it, wide enough
for two coaches to drive abreast, A hut was
also built in the interior, for the accommoda-
ton of the wandering nut gatherers of the
vicinity. This noted tree was probably sew
eral thousand years old and quite likely it
had passed its meridian long before the ty-
rant Nero reigned i'm Rome, OF before Julius
Cesar went on his eventful journey to Gaul
and Briton. But time in its steady and un-
deviating march finally levels all things and
the great chestnut has long since passed into
a venerable ruin. Centuries ago, before de-
cay bad commenced, it was looked upon as
the glory of the forest; and it was visited by
thousands, from all quarters of the then
known world. But its fame and greatness
are known no mOTe. Like the mighty EN-
pires of Greece and Rome its grandeur and
magnifcence has passed away, and we know
of its former existence only as we read the
records of the past BRllou's Monthly Nigga
zine for July.
A SAGACIoUs DONKEY.-In no part of the
world, probably, is the patient animal, which
is too often treated with cruelty, sowell cared
for as in Spain. In this country the donkey
and the mule are petted and become great
favorites and among the peasantry they are
almost looked upon as members of the house
hold. As showing the wonderful influence
which kind treatment will exercise. espec-