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PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



two Other trees bad an ambitus of 108 and 97 feet, respectively, while 

 another was 33 feet in girth. These being all standing trees, their 

 height could not be measured accurately, but not one of them was less 

 than 100 feet high. The average height of eight trees, which are all 

 that have been actually measured, was 145^ feet, the extremes being 

 120 and 108 feet. 



Begins to leaf May 1. 



The following detailed list of all the specimens measured may be of in- 

 terest, as showing the great amount of variation in proportions in this tree : 



a. This is probably the largest tree of any kind which I have seen 

 anywhere in the Wabash Valley, or any other part of the Eastern Pro- 

 vince of North America. It is of very vigorous growth, and apparently 

 perfectly sound. Circumference at the ground, 42 feet; round smallest 

 part of the trunk, 30 feet; greatest diameter, 15 feet, least diameter, 

 10 feet, the average diameter being about 11 feet. Ambitus, 134 feet 

 in one direction, the least spread of top being 112 feet. Total height, 

 as determind by several measurements with "dendrometer," and by 

 shadow, about 160 feet. The trunk first divides at about 7 feet from 

 the ground, but above this division the main stem is still 8 feet in dia- 

 meter; this extends upward, (jraduaUy enlarging^ to about 15 feet from 

 the ground, where the next division takes place, the next fork being nearly 

 30 feet up. Xo horizontal branches are thrown out until a height of 

 70 or 80 feet is reached (or about half the total height of the tree), the 



