Gloucester County Democrat., 1905-07-13
OUR LARGE WHITE OAKS.
Paper read before the Gloucester County His
torieai Society July IL 1865. BY Jos B. LivezeyI


South Jersey is justly famous for her
many large White Oak Trees. The largest
perhaps are found in Gloucester County.
Two of these are on the N. T. side Of
Mantua Creek, one on the Gloucester and
Salem turnpike at Mickleton, another one
mile south Of Mickleton on the farm Of S
Tomlin.
The largest Of these is that known as the
Tatum Oak standing on the Tatum farm
now owned by Sarah Hills Of Wilmington,
Delaware. This tree is about one half mile
II. w. Of the turnpike where it crosses
Great Mantua Creek, near Ogden Station
on the Salem Branch of the W. ]. 4 S. r.
r. It stands near the centre of an eight
acre field bounded By natural hedge, the
land sloping gently to the So. East towards
the creek; a carriage road or lane way from
the turnpike just above the bridge leads
through the farm by the buildings to the
field.
The ground around the tree is worn away
BY the natural erosin Of many years OF cul-
tivation, the roots being somewhat exposed.
This tree seems to be in good state Of pres
eryation, and may with care last another
century.
The following measurements Of this grand
old Oak were made in the fall Of 1900 by
John B. Smock, State Geologist, accompa-
MED by Benjamin Heritage, Botantist Of
Mickleton, and the writer.
Our first measurement was around the
trunk where it enters the earth, it measured
forty feet; the tape line was then raised one
foot, the measurement was thirty-one feet;
az two feet above the ground is was twenty
eight feet six inches; at three feet, twenty
six feet; at four feet, twenty-four feet ten
inches; and at six feet, twenty-four feet
eight inches. We measured the diameter
Of the trunk by its shadow cast on the
earth as seven feet from the ground, it
measured eight feet two inches, and twenty
five feet just below where the branches
leave the trunk it was five feet two inches,
the trunk holding nearly uniform dianes-
er for twelve feet, which is owing to the
lower branches haying been cut off many
years ago and now healed over, though
leaving the scars
The spread Of the branches was next
measured and found to be one hundred and
sixteen feet from East to West, although
there appears to be little difference in the
spread in other directions. Owing to its
large rounded top its height was not 50
easily measured, but was thought to be be-
tween eighty-six and ninety feet. Another
careful measurement Of this large tree was
made 5th Mo, 10th, 1905, by the writer.
Nails were driven in the bark at intervals
of a few feet apart, two feet from the earth
and the tape line passed around on these
nails the circumference was found to be
twenty-eight feet seven inches, a gain IN
the former measurement Of one inch. At
four feet from the ground, the same method
Of measurement gave twenty-five feet four
inches; a gain Of six inches; and at six feet
from the ground, twenty-five feet; gain Of
fur inches, an average gain in the three
measurements of nearly three inches in four
wears, or three. .foulths Of an inch in circum-
ference per year taking the middle
measurement, or the one four feet from the
ground, twenty-five feet four inches would
give as 96. 1863 inches as the present diam
etsr at that place, which compared with
The measurement Of the diameter as taken
four years ago, 81. 1853 inches, gives us ! 81
Of an inch of growth in four years, which
seems to indicate rapid growth at this
alnre The spread Of the branches meas
ured one hundred and nineteen feet, gain
of three feet in the four years.
IT would be very interesting to know the
exact age Of this Monarch Of the forest.
which in all probability is that Of many
centuries. However, we can only arrive at
conjecture Of this BY comparison with
other white oaks Of known age, by ascer-
tanning the average time ii takes the white
oak to make a gwen growth Of wood. This
can only be done comparatively, first, be-
cause the annual growths are very irregular
depending much upon the seasons, growing
three times ais much or more in some years
as compared with others; as any one may
observe ID the yearly growths Of all trees;
second, because the growth differs on diff
erent sides of the tree, but by taking the
number Of annual rings or growths Of many
fraes ami measuring their diameters. upon