The Arizona sentinel., 1888-04-21
CoNNECIlCuT TREES.
Some of the Nutmeg States Widespread-
 ing Monarchs of the Woods

Mark Twain once informed some friends of his from Eimira, as they crossed the ancient wooden bridge which spans the Connecticut river al this city, that it was built entirely Oi wood from the famous Charter Oak. Perhaps this was an exaggeration ot the humorists, but even if so, there is enough timber from the great oak still lying in the garrets of Hartford. Wethersield and Windsor to make several gool-sized bridges. But the Charter Oak, aside from its historical interest was not the only great tree grown on Connecticut soil. There are numerous trees of notable dimensions in the State, many a one of which could literally put the famous oak into the
 shade Such a one is the great elm of Wethersfield, of which Henry Howe, of New Haven, an authority on New Eneland's famous trees, wrote:
 50 far as I know it is the bully elm of the United States. I think all others will have to throw up the sponge to it"
 The dimensions of this great tree are as follows: At feet 6 inches from the ground the circumference is 9 feet inches, or, following the de- pressions of the trunk, 26 feet 3 inches. The circumference where the tree en- ters the ground is 5 feet 6 inches. There are five main branches from the 1Y.t,, lao lor nf xxh nh ic inches in diameter, and the smallesti is feet The spread of the branches from north to south is 150 feet, and from east 10 west 154 feet. An idea of the size of this great tree may be had from the fact that could four trees of equal size be planted so that their branches would touch, they would occupy ? acres and 16 square rods of ground.
 The history of the elm is interesting. In the spring of 1749 John Smith, of Wethersl field, went 10 his pasture, three miles south of the village. after cattle When there he got off his horse to get a whip. and seeing a vigorous young tree in wet ground. he pulled it up by hand, and took it home on his horse and set it out where it now stands. in the "broal street, of the town in front of land still owned by his descendants.
 In Nor h Haven oa the Hartford turnpike is an immense black walnut which is 2 feet in circumference, and is estimated to contain at least 15 cords of wood. Near the center of this town are two pine trees, which were brought from the North and plan ted by Minister Stiles. They are now very large trees. A noticeable ob- ject on the road between North Haven and Northford is a white oak, very tall and with a great spread of branches.
 S J. Paddock, of Cromwell, has near his residence white oak the cir conference of which at the surface of the ground is 241 feet and at 10 feet from the ground 144 feet The spread of its branches is 95 feet. Mr. w. A. Browning, of Griswold. boasts on his farm beautiful elm, 15 feet around the trunk, and having a finely-arched top, the spead of which is S4 feet. In Salem there is broad-spreading black oak that is over feet Tn diameter at the butt On the Holmes farm, on the road along the Naugatuck river above Waterbury, are two fine elms, one of which is not euualed in the western part of the State. It is IS feet in circumference 3 feet up the trunk, and this is the smallest place below the branches. WillingtOn's largest tree is a chestnut. which takes a measure twenty-five feet long to go around it, and which is 130 years old. Among the remarkable trees If Bristol is black willow stanG- ing near mill-pond. It was planted in 1874, and is seven feet in diameter. lis height is forty feet, dits branches extend sixty-two feet.
 In the beautiful town of Woodstock are three majestic elms, whose story is pretty one. On the very day of the battle of Lexington a bride from Windham took from her fathers farm these three trees. which she carried to her new home in Woodstock. lashed behind her on her horse's back There they stand to-day, cherished by her descendants. both as tribute 10 Ma tional history and as representing also a prominent era in the life of the planter.
 Near Turkey Hill, in inc town ot Hlddam, stands a great pine tree, which has many historical associa- lions. Over century and a half ago there lived there family with twelve children. These children planted the tree near their home. All of them married later in life, and brought up families. No less than five of their number fought in the war of the revo- lution, and one lived to one hundred and six. This tree is now fondly cher ished by the fourth and fifth genera tioas of the descendants of the plant CTS.
 II Uncasville, part of Mcntville, there are a white oak and a chestnut standing near the center that tradi- ton says were large trees when Samuel Rogers, the first settler of Uncasville, about 210 years since, built his cabin and planted his corn. They were so near the road between New London and Hartford that the eyes of both Fiiz John Winthrop and Gurdon Sal tonstall-the former Governor of the colony from 1896 10 1707. and the lat