176 TREES AS ELECTEIC AGENTS. 



safest place a few yards distant from a tree, and a lit- 

 tle outside of its widest spread. It is unsafe to stand 

 under the drip of a tree, which might convey to the per- 

 son an electric charge. It was the opinion of M. Arago, 

 that trees overtopping houses at small distances cannot 

 be regarded as affording sure protection, like a properly 

 adjusted lightning-rod; but he admitted that when a 

 storm passes over a forest it is decidedly enfeebled. The 

 forest certainly diminishes the power of a thunderbolt. 

 The security derived from trees attaches principally to 

 large assemblages. Though a house may receive but 

 little protection from a few tall trees standing near it, it 

 is not to be denied that a village or hamlet is rendered 

 more secure by adjoining woods. 



