Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-01-14
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
Observations on Trees in Relation to
Their Ability TO Conduct Light
ming to the Ground.
suggestions to Persons Who Keep One Cow
for supplying FAMILY With MIX.
frees as beginning Conductors

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for supplying FAMILY With MIX.
Trees as Lightning Conductors.
During the past few years great in
terest has been taken in England,
France, and GerEseny in trees as con-
ductors OF electricity. In the opinion
OF some trees afford much better pro-
lection against Lightning than rods of
any kind OF metal that are attached to
buildings. Trees have an advantage
over rods in beng cheaper and in or
namenting the ground about buildings,
while rods of metal attached to the
buildings serve to disiiguro them. The
circumstance that lightning struck
trees probably suggested TO Franklin
the employment OF metal conductors
for the purpose OF conveying the elec-
trical discharge to the earth. All who
have been in forest during thpnd-
or storm have witnessed the pranks of
lightning among the trees. An Eng
lish engineer who spent several years
in this country thus writes on the
subject: During surveys in the fore Is
of the United States, when lnecessar-
lily lived under canvas, often had the
opportunity OF witnessing the effects
OF lightning on trees, and my expert
ences lead me to believe that trees are
only destroyed by lightning when they
have been previously wetted by rain.
A sojourner in the woods, whether he
is taken in pursuit of game or with
the object of prospecting for timber,
minerals. and land, is always careful
to erect his tent under n short, thick
tree in order to escape the danger OF
lightning or of trees falling and bring
ing down others in their way on him;
and it was often while thus situated |
noticed after stormy nights when
lightning and thunder were accom-
panied by rain that many trees had
fallen. The report OF the swapping of
the trunks would remind one of that
of the firing of q cannon. and when
lightning and thunder were not ac-
companied by rain Gin the immediate
locality OF our camp at any rate) no
trees had been struck. infer from
the same observations that the light
ming always strikes the tallest trees,
whatever their species may be, for the
taller white pines and poplars were
most often seen destroyed and the
shorter naples, linden, birch trees.
etc, rarely so; also that the sap be-
tween the wood and the bark of the
tree does not increase the chance of its
destruction.
A gentleman connected with the
Kew botanical gardens suggests that
countries collect reliable data en-
bodying the observations of different
persons as to the particular circum-
stances attending thunder storms
during which more or less injury has
been done trees. He states as IL result
of his own observation that certa n
kinds of trees are much more likely to
be injured by lightning than others,
which goes 10 show that they are very
poor conductors of electricity. Tho
condition of the tree in regard to age
and vigor has also, in his opinion,
much to do in making 1t goad or bad
conductor. In q communication TO a
London paper he says: The cOmpara-
tive conduetibility OF different trees is
not wholly, in my opinion, n question
of species. The same species ut dit
ferent stages of growth, and growing
under different circumstances, will
exhibit widely different degrees OF
conductibility. Doubtless the hard.
ness of the wood and the character oil
the grain, and also tho character OF
the ramiiication, have much to dc
with that resistance 10 the electric
fluid which results in damage 10 limbs
or trunk. Hence, probably, why the
oak, which is remarkable for the gen
eral closeness aud hardness or its
grain. and tho ruggedness and con,
tortiOn of its ramilicatOn, SO fire
quently suffers, while soft-wooded
trees, like tho popIars, escape. But
younger oaks under the same circum.
stances might escape, while older and
harder and dr.er trees would be bro
ken by the electric fluid. A mistake
commonly made is to speak of certain
trees being "struck' by lightning, the
word 'strucl" beng applied 10 those
trees that are injured by lightning.
Thousands of trees are struck during
every thunderstorm that takes place
over woody country; but, being struck
noiselessly and without resulting in,
Jury, they are not noticed. 1t is
doubtless the superior or inferior con,
ductve power OF 4 tree which sub
jects il to, or oXempts it from, harm
from lightning; but it is the greater OF
less moisture of the branches and
trunk which regulates the conductive
power. The form of a tree. too, has
much to do with its exemption from
hurtful strokes. The Lombardy pop
lar is about the best form, because its
branches, pointed upward are like sc
many lightning conductors. The oaE
is about the worst form, because ITS
branches and limbs are nearly Away.
Tin those trees which are mostly dam
aged)placed athwart the course of the
electric fluid. The Lombardy poplar
also is of much moister and softer
substance than the oak, and conse
quently gives freer passage to cleo
tricity.
The best conductors of electricity
are not those tina. are "struck" bv
discharge from a cloud, but those
which silently convey il to the eartl
without being shattered or injured il
any way. That many trees do thi.
seems certain. In all probabilit,
trees whose leaves present many sharl
points are the best conductors of elec
tricity. Each po'nt attracts cleo
tricity, and is the means OF d irectin!
it through the branch and trunk t
the earth. The amount conveyed b.
: each is so small that no part of tn
tree sustains any damage. Leave
like those of the holly tree are ad
mi~.hly formed for attracting cleo
- - G--she points on the foliage o
iir'a..--1 he desired shape to attrac
electricity, but the resin in the fir ire
serves to mako it a poor conductor
In a fiat and nearly level country lik
our western prairies lightning doe
not always ''strke" the highest oh
iects. 1t sometimes enters the side O
building instead of discharging itsel
on the chimney. the highest place o
the roof or other projecting poin,
The presence of suitable trees near
house, or at some distance from it !
the direction toward the course of tn
prevailing thunder clouds, woul
serve to protect the dwelling. Tree
that are better conductors than tn
materials of which the buildings ar
composed would protect them as we
as metal rods.
Keeping One Cow