THE HISTORIC TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS 



a peculiar woody formation, or "nubbin," 

 which may at one time have been the be- 

 ginning of a third section. It has been 

 literally squeezed out of existence. At the 

 point where the main trunk divides and this 

 dwarfed formation emerges, the circumference 

 is twenty-five and a half feet. The two 

 gigantic trunks subdivide at about eight 

 feet into three large branches each, and, 

 in combination, form one of the most re- 

 markable crowns that can be conceived of. 

 The spread of the branches is one hundred 

 and forty-five feet, and the height of the 

 tree is seventy feet. The age of the Rugg 

 Elm has been variously estimated at from 

 three hundred to four hundred years. Pro- 

 tected from severe storms by a sheltering 

 rise of ground, it has succeeded in preserving 

 all of its limbs, which, but for their supports, 

 would rest for a portion of their length upon 

 the ground. The owner of the tree, Mr. 

 Dennett, has spared no effort to protect the 

 landmark, and it has during recent years 

 received the best of care and some assistance 

 in the way of tree surgery. The work has been 



C 126;] 



