The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-07-22
FACTS ABOUT TREES.

.
1t j. one al the few trees which will bear
irar>pi.,uting when fun grown, aud this
fact has Gitrn been taken advantage of
iii England to change barren spots to
woodlands. 1t is tallel than the average
of forest trees, and the masses OF light
aud shade caused by its luxuriant foliage
add much to the attractiveness of a
woodland scene. The elm lives to a
great age. and many trees are known
which date back several ceuturics.--
There is an elm in the south OF England
sixty feet IN circumference, whose
trunk is hollow. having door. fastened
by a lock and key. Fcstal parties have
sometimes gathered i'll this tree, and it is
sad that child was once born there
Another great elm las winding stair
case cut within il and q turret at the top
which will accommodate twenty persons
at once. The wych or witch elm was
formerly believed to be an unfiiling safe
guard against witches: and even now
tihplis, "ciiiC tHb anu SuItlSIlI lOuS
persons a little of the same belief fingers.
The elm is 4 very vigorous grower, so
much SO as to often run out other trees.
This is due to the strength and rapitlity
of growth Of the roots, which spread
Just below the surface of the ground.
1t is especially noticeable for the great
,.,l, ,,f "A L,
never TO splinter. The knots are much
used FOR veneerng. In Northern E,urope
during times of scarcity the inner bari.
OF the eim is sometimes ground to pow
der and mixed with meal to aid in SUP
porting life. Both leaves and bark are
very astrlngent and the leaves have been
employed I" adulteratc tea. The elm IS
particularly unfortunate III lis liability
to the attacks of disease and injurious
insects. Some of these insects content
themselves with feeding on the leaves,
but others burrow long galleries in the
trunk itself and eventually Kill the tree,
If present in considerable numbers.
Among the most beautiful of the for
est trees is the aSh-indeed, it has been
called Tie Venus of the Forest" and
" The Queen oil tie Forest" Its curves
are easy and graceful, and the li9htness
and looseness of its foliage impart pc
cullar airy grace. As the tree grows old
1t loses much of its beauty. The wood
Is less durable than that of some other
trees, but its elastic lightness makes it
much i'll demand for some purposes. 1t
tree because the timber was much used
for agricultural implements. The bark
is sometimes employed i'll tanning, and
the seed and sap are used i'll medicine
\ dccoction of the bark and leaves was
formerly given as Il tonic. The berries
of the mountain ash: in some parts of
Europe, are dried and ground into -four
To be used as food. The ash was for
merly accredited with possessing magi-
cal powers to some degree. 1t was sup
posed that children troubled with Ger
tain congenital defects might be healed
BY passing them, entirely naked, be-
tween the parts Of 4 young ash tree,
which had been cleft for that purpose.
The tree was then carefully reunited and
pastered over with mud. |! the parts
joined. and the wound healed, it was be-
lieved that the child would certainly be
healed, while if the tree refused to Join,
the chin would not be benefited IN
other superstition relative to this tree
was connected with the little animal call
ed the shrew. If Il horse or COW was
afflicted with pains in its limbs. the trou-
be was believed to be caused by shrew
running over it. and the unfailing rem
edy was provided by the IS hrcw ash
This was nothing more than ash, and
into the trunk of which hole had been
bored. Into this with much ceremony
and many lamentations, a live shrew was
put and the hole plugged up. In France
the ash is subject to the attacks Of the
beetle ca: led Canthnris. better known as
the spanish fly This insect is of a
golden green hue. and very beautiful to
the sight, but it ntterly ruins the beauty
of the tree, besides giving out Il very Of
fensive odor. 1t is. however, valuable as
IL medicinal agent. \ spa lies of ash
which grows in Sicily yields d substance
known as mamma, formerly much employ
ed in medicines. Now, however, it is of
little use. The ash frequently attains a
considerable size. During the last cen.
fury there was a hollow trunk OF an ash
tree, forty-two feet in circumference. ut
Donirey. Ireland The village school
was kept in this tree for Il time. I'm ash
i'll l."chaber church yard, Scotland. is
said To have been lifty-cight feet in cir
conference, measured five feet from the
ground. At Carnock, Scotland. is one
planted in 159S, which is ninety feet high
and nineteen feet IN circumference. five
feet from the ground.
The cypress was highly esteemed
among the Greeks and Romans for the
extreme durability Of its wood. which is
hard, fragrant and of beautiful red
color. The AthcnianS used it for collins,
in which to preserve the bodies of their
great men. Most of the Sarcophagi in
which the Egyptian mummies have been
found. were also of cypress wood. Plato
l,n1 ,.,ln of ., ,,,r,-al tnl
Of cypress. considering it more durable
than brass The renowned statue of .JU-
pitcr, ut Rome, was made Of cypress. as
We're also the doors of the temple of Di-
ana, at EphesuS. The doors of st.
Peters. at Rome, were made of cypress
wood. i'll the time of Constantine. When
they were replaced by brazen doors,
eleven centuries later, they were found
entirely uniniurcd by the tooth of time
The wood was much used 10y the Romans
and grove of cypress was considered a
handsome dowry for a Roman lady. 1t
was also esteemed as shade tree and
was often trimmed into numerous gro
or whatever form fancy might dictate.
Its peculiar odor was considered of much
medicinal value and Eastern physicians
not inirequently sent weak Hinged pa
ticnts to Crete, where the cypress grew
in great ABUNDANCE, solely for the sake
of inhalng its ordor. Owing, probably,
to its peculiar shape and the subdued
color of its foliage, the cypress has al
WayS nnnn thnu nht Snnriallv suited tn he