496 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



arouud the bodies of the trees, and then their branches intermingled and 

 shaded the entrance of the temple for many years. 



But enough of the mythology and superstitions. Had I time to spare I 

 would like to speak of a number of species of remarkable trees. I will only 

 speak of two or three, although many others are worthy. One of the most 

 interesting is the Baobab of Africa. It grows to a diameter of thirty feet, 

 with a diameter of top of 150 feet and an entire height of only sixty or seventy 

 feet. Its age has been thought to reach four thousand years, but fifteen 

 hundred or two thousand are probably more nearly correct. The interior of 

 the body becomes soft and spongy and is used as a receptacle for dead bodies 

 in countries where it abounds. 



Doubtless the most remarkable tree in the world is the Banyan or Indian 

 Pig of India. The great pagodas are usually found near these trees and the 

 Hindoos regard them as the type of the deity. One near the banks of the 

 Nerbudda was once capable of shading seven thousand people. Its trunk 

 reaches a diameter of eight or ten feet and its branches send down roots 

 which hang perfectly loose until they reach the ground. They never cease 

 growing, and when they reach the earth they take root and increase in size 

 until they reach a diameter of two feet or more and seem like great props to 

 the horizontal branches above. One contained three hundred and fifty of 

 these larger trunks and more than three thousand of the smaller ones. The 

 great tree still standing on the banks of the Nerbudda is supposed to be the 

 one spoken of by Nearchus, the admiral of Alexander the Great. Southey 

 gives a very beautiful poetical description of one of these trees in his Curse 

 of Kehama, a part of which I will read. 



'Twas a fair scene wherein they stood, 

 A green and sunny glade amid the wood 



And in the midst an aged Banyan grew. 

 It was a goodly sight to see 

 That venerable tree ; 



For o'er the lawn irregularly spread, 

 Fifty straight columns propped its lofty head, 

 And many a long depending shoot, 

 Seeking to strike its root. 



Straight like a plummet grew towards the ground 

 Some on the lower boughs which crossed their way 

 Fixing their bearded fibi*es round and round 

 With many a ring and wild contortion wound ; 

 Some to the passing wind, at times, with sway 

 Of gentle motion swung ; 



Beneath was smooth and fair to sight. 



Nor weeds nor briers deformed the natural floor. 



And through the leafy cope which bowered it o'er 



Came gleams of checkered light. 

 So like a temple did it seem, that there 

 A pious heart's first impulse would be prayer. 



