396 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



THE BENEDICT ELM. 



This elm is in Wilton Township, Fairfield County, Connecticut, The circumference is fourteen feet, eleven 



and three-quarter inches; and the spread about one hundred and five feet. It was 



measured and photographed by Norman De W. Betts, January 1, 1915. 



Largest Elm in Connecticut. 



BY NORMAN DE W. BETTS. 



Local tradition has it that the Benedict 

 Elm in the township of Wilton, Fairfield 

 County, is now the largest elm in the 

 State of Connecticut. The circumference 

 measured on January I, 1915, at about 



four and a half feet from the ground, 

 was 14 feet, n ^4 inches. The spread 

 was paced in the direction of the high- 

 way which it borders and was estimated 

 to be 105 feet. The trunk, as is shown in 

 the photographs, soon breaks up into a 

 great number of large branches, which in 



