THE LONGEVITY OF TREES. 87 
and twenty or one hundred and thirty years old. We wish 
to place its size upon record for the use of future genera- 
tions ; and we therefore take this opportunity to state, that 
the trunk of the ‘“ Washington Elm,” at Cambridge, now 
measures thirteen feet and two and a half inches in cireum- 
ference, at the height of three feet from the ground ; this 
being the point at which the girth is smallest, being unaf- 
fected either by the expansion of the roots below, or of the 
branches above, and therefore the proper place to measure it 
for this purpose. That this size is conformable to the age as- 
signed is apparent from a comparison with other trees; such, 
for instance, as the “‘ Aspinwall Elm, in Brookline, standing 
near the ancient house belonging to the family of that name, 
and which was known to be one hundred and eighty-one years 
old in 1837, when it measured sixteen feet eight inches at five 
feet from the ground, and twenty-six feet five inches close by 
the surface.” ! The noted Elm upon Boston Common should 
be about the same age. Its present girth, at five feet from 
the ground, is sixteen feet and one inch; at the height of 
three feet it measures seventeen feet eleven inches; near the 
earth, twenty-three feet and six inches. We have seen a map 
of Boston, published in the year 1720, upon which this Elm 
is delineated as a large tree. Its age, therefore, is certainly 
as great as that assigned to it in the subjoined account, which 
recently appeared in the newspapers of the day ; — we know 
not upon what authority.” 
1 We quote the manuscript of an esteemed friend, who has devoted 
much attention to the history and growth of trees, and whose long ex- 
pected volume, on the trees of New England, we hope will soon be given 
to the public. 
? As such data may hereafter possess some interest, we may simply 
state, that the large “English Elm,” one of the finest trees on Boston 
Common, is now eleven feet two inches in girth, at five feet from the 
ground ; and twelve feet three inches, at the height of three feet. The 
American Elm, near the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, in front of the 
house of Judge Phillips, has a girth of thirteen feet, at six feet from the 
earth, and of fifteen feet, three feet lower down. Its neighbor, opposite 
the gardener’s residence, is fourteen feet three inches in circumference, 
at six feet from the ground. (MSS. note in Dr. Gray’s handwriting. 
1874, Phillip’s 14-93, Sander’s 15-74.) 
