INTRODUCTION 



gleaned from town and county histories, 

 selectmens' reports, newspapers, and many 

 other sources, and reproduced without any 

 attempt at exaggeration. The arrangement 

 of chapters, with exception of the last, is 

 based on geographical situation, with Boston 

 as a starting point. 



For a clear understanding of the measure- 

 ments, which are given for each historic 

 tree and for the majority of the others, the 

 following points may be noted: Circum- 

 ferences are taken at breast height, or four 

 and a half feet from the ground, unless other- 

 wise stated. (Some authorities favor five 

 feet, and others give circumferences at vary- 

 ing points on the trunk.) Heights are meas- 

 ured from the ground to the end of the 

 topmost branch, with a hypsometer; and 

 spread signifies the greatest extent of the 

 branches, measured in a straight line out- 

 ward from the trunk on both sides. 



All photographs were taken by the author 

 with a 3A Brownie camera. Trees which 

 show no leaves were photographed in winter 

 or early spring. 



