Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-12-28
LIGHTNING'S STROKE.
FRANKS PLAYED BY THUNOsReOLrS
AMONG TIE TREES.
Certain Kinds Of Trees Much More Likely
To Is. Injured Than oth-r--An
Observers Note--Some Gu
riou- fa.t.-

riou- fs"t.-
Chicago Times
All who have been in forest during
thunder storm have witnessed the pranAs
Of Lightning among the trees An Lngilsh
engineer who spent several years IN this
country thus writes on the sub cct. Dur
ing SURVEYS in the forests Of the nited
states. when | necessarily live under
canvas | often had the opportunity OF
witnessing the ELECTS of lightning on
trees, aud nv experiences lead me 10 be.
lie,e that trees are only destroyed by
lightning when they have been previously
wetted by the rain.
A soiourner in the woods, whether he
is taken in pursuit of game or with the
oble t OF prospecting for timber, miner
ais, aud land is always careful 10 erect
his tent uuder a short thick Tree IN order
TO escape the danger OF lightning or OF
trees falling and bringing down Others in
their way ON him d il was often while
thus situated noticed after stormy
nights when lightning and thunder
were accompanied by rain that many
trees had fallen. The report Of the
swapping OF the trunks would remind
one OF that of the firing OF n cannon. and
when lightning aud thunder were not ac-
com anied BY rain IN the immediate
locality of our camp al any rate II" trees
had been struck | infer from the same
observations that the lightning always
strikes the tallest trees whatever their
species may be. for the taller white pines
and poplars were most often seen de
stroyed and the shorter mspIcs linden.
birch trees etc, rarely SO also that the
l., wool and The bAfh OF
the tree does not increase the chance OF
lis destruction.
An OBSERVERS NOTES.
A gentleman connected with the new
botanical gardens suggests that the mete.
geological offices in different countries
collect reliable data embody!ns the oh.
servations of different persons as 10 the
particular circumstances attending thun
der storms during which more OF less IN
Jury has been done Trees lie states as
the result OF his own observation that GER
tain kinds of trees are much more likely
10 se in ured by lightning than others,
which goes 10 show that they are very
poor conductors of electricity. The con D..
dition OF the tree IN regard 10 aye and
vigor has also. in his opinion much 10 do
in max ing it a good or bad conductor. In
a communication to a London paper he
SAYS The comparative ConduCtihilIty OF
different Trees is not wholly, in ny opn-
ion. question OF species l he same
SPECIES al iii ercut stages OF growth. aud
growing under different circumstances,
will exhibit widely different degrees of
COnductibi!Iiy.
Doubtless the hardness Of the wood aud
the character of the grain, aud also the
character of the ramiticatlon. have much
To do with that resistance 10 the electric
iluid which results ia damage to limbs or
trunk Hence probably. why the oak.
which is remarkable for the general C.ose-
ness and hardness OF its gran. and the
ruggedness and CcntOrtion Of It's ramilca-
ton. so frequently suffers. while soft
wooded trees like the popiar,. escape
But younger oaks under the same circum-
stances might escape. while older and
harder and drier trees would bc broken
by the electric fluid \ mis- axe com
monty made is TO speak Of certain tree,
being struck" bv lightning. the word
struck being only applied TO those Trees
that are in urej by lightning Thousands
Of trees are struck during every thunder
storm that takes place over woody coun.
try. but, being stIaCk noiselessly aud
without resulting IN ury, they are not
noticed. IL i doubtless ihc superior or
inferior conductive power Of tree which
sub ects il to. or eNcmpts IT from. harm
from lightning. but ii IS The greater or
less moisture OF the branches AID trunk
which regulates the conductive power
ENtN.TIuN AND LIABILITY.
The form Of d tree, too. has much TO do
with il, exemption from hurttul strokes.
The Lombar " poplar is about the best
h... hr.prhn. fsi
ward. Are like so many lightning con
duciors The OAK is about the worst form.
because its branches and limbs are nearly
ALWAYS in those trees which are mostly
damaged placed across the course OF the
electric fluid The Lombardy poplar
also is of mu h muister and softer sub
stance than the oak. and consequently
gives freer passage 10 the electricity.
The best conductors Of electricity are
not those that are struck by a dIsChar ge
from a cloud. but those which silently
convey it TO the earth without being
shattered or injured in any way. That
many trees do this seems certain. In all
probability trees whose leaves present
many sharp points are the best conductors
of electricity. Zach point attracts cleo
tricity, and is the means of directing it
through the branch and trunk TO the
earth The amount conveyed by each Is
SO small that no part of the tree sustains
any damage Leaves like those of the
holly tree are admirably formed for at
tracing electricity The points on the
foliage of fir are of the desired shape 10
attract electricity. out the resin in the fir
tree serves to make il a poor conductor.
In fiat and nearly leIel country like
our western prairies lightning does not
always strike" the highest objects. Ii
sometimes enters the side of building
instead OF dis harging itself on the chin
ney, the highest place on the roof. or
other pro iecting point The presence Of
suitable trees next a house. or at some
distance from il in the dire, ton toward
the course of the prevailing thunder
clouds would serve TO protect the dwell
ing Trees that are better conductors
than the materials of which buildings are
composed would pr r'tect them as well as
metal rods
steam la "A Red Hot npiter.