TREES AS ELECTRIC AGENTS. 175 



Dibdin remarks, in a letter to Alexander "Wilson, that in 

 the forests of Virginia the pines, though taller than the 

 oaks, were less frequently injured by lightning, and con- 

 siders them pretty secure when growing among oaks. 

 These accounts by different writers are too various and 

 contradictory to be of much value in aiding us to dis- 

 cover the truth. It is probable that the partial exemp- 

 tion of certain trees from the stroke of lightning, if any 

 such accounts be true, depends on their size and shape. 

 A tall tree in an assemblage would be more exposed than 

 the others. It may also be supposed that if a tree has a 

 regular ramification, smooth and straight branches and 

 trunk, it is better formed for a conductor, and that it would 

 be more liable to receive a charge of the fluid. But all 

 these opinions are probably of the same character with 

 those respecting the antipathy of serpents for certain 

 trees, traditionary notions which are hardly worthy of 

 investigation. The opinion of the ancients concerning 

 the immunity of the laurel was probably derived from 

 their idea of its sanctity as the tree which was dedicated 

 to Apollo. At the present day there exists in Italy a 

 similar notion concerning the white grapevine. Some 

 of the peasantry of that country are accustomed to twin- 

 ing its branches around the head and waist as a protection 

 from a thunder-stroke. 



Trees are generally believed to protect a house adjoin- 

 ing them from lightning ; on the contrary, it is known 

 that men and animals seeking refuge under a tree in an 

 open plain are in greater danger than outside of it. The 

 lightning is therefore probably conducted by the water 

 passing down on the surface of the branches and trunk ; 

 for if the tree itself were the conductor, the lightning 

 would pass through the trunk into the ground, and, 

 like a lightning-rod, act as a protection to objects near, 

 but not in contact with it. Dr. Franklin thought the 



