Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts. 183 



the more pleasing but less useful details of size, form, propor- 

 tions, of trees, will find much information in this report. Mr. 

 Emerson is evidently a connoisseur in this branch of taste, 

 and speaks with much felicity of many noble specimens of 

 Oaks, Elms, Pines and other trees. Every body admires the 

 Elm, and all are struck with their occasional extraordinary 

 sizes. Of these 



" In Springfield, in a field a few rods north of the hotel, is an elm which 

 was twenty-five feet and nine inches in circumference, at three feet from the 

 ground, when I measured it in 1837. This magnificent tree divides, not 

 many feet from the ground, into several large branches. This is near the 

 place where the enormous Celtis, which was usually taken for an elm, once 

 stood. There are many other elms, not far from this, some of which make 

 a greater show at a distance. 



" The Aspinwall elm, in Brookline, standing near the ancient house 

 belonging to that family, and which was known to be one hundred and 

 eighty-one years old in 1837, then measured twenty-six feet five inches at 

 the ground, or as near to it as the roots would allow us to measure, and 

 sixteen feet eight inches at five feet. The branches extended one hundred 

 and four feet from southeast to northwest, and ninety-five from northeast to 

 southwest. 



" The great elm on Boston Common was measured by Prof. Gray and my- 

 self, in June of 1844. At the ground, it measures twenty-three feet six 

 inches ; at three feet, seventeen feet eleven inches ; and, at five feet, six- 

 teen feet and one inch. The largest branch, towards the southeast, stretches 

 fifty-one feet. 



" The classical elm, opposite the gate of the Botanic Garden, Cambridge, 

 raeasured fourteen feet nine inches at four feet, in 1838." pp. 290, 291. 



A fine large specimen of Celtis crassifolia Mr., or Hack- 

 berry, is thus mentioned : — 



" I have found it in only two places : — in Springfield, on the east side of 

 the Connecticut River, and in West Springfield, on tlie west. Some of 

 the trees are, I hope, still standing. The most remarkable one has been 

 destroyed. It grew a few rods north of the Hampden House, in the broad 

 county road, in Springfield. When I measured it, in September, 1838, its 

 girth, at three feet from the ground, was sixteen feet ten inches ; at four, 

 it was fourteen feet three inches ; at six, thirteen feet. It had gnarled, 

 projecting roots, putting out on every side till nearly three feet from the 

 surface. It diminished, gradually, to the height of twelve or fifteen feet, 

 and there had several broad, irregular protuberances, where it had lost large 

 limbs. Above this, it tapered rapidly, dividing into three branches, which 

 formed a small, round, rather dense top, fifty or sixty feet high. It was 

 covered with a very rough, brownish gray bark, and had, altogether, so 



