Daniel Boone's ''Bar'' Tree 



By Wilbur R. Mattoon, Forest Examiner 



anchorage side of the trunk, has recently cracked and 

 broken due to heavy strain and rapid deterioration of the 

 root wood. With a little labor further soil erosion and 

 root exposure might be greatly checked and the day of 

 the downfall of the tree probably be deferred for years. 

 An effective method would be to drive low stakes of some 

 lasting wood, red cedar for example, and strew the sur- 

 face of the ground with brush wood, lopped short to 

 allow ready access of visitors to the tree. The present 



JONESBORO, Tennessee, a station on the Knox- 

 ville Division of the Southern Railroad, is located 

 in the extreme northeastern portion of the State. 

 It is the oldest town in Tennessee and during a time in 

 the eighteenth century was the capital of the trans- 

 mountain State of Franklin. A two-hour drive over hilly 

 roads northeast from Jonesboro brings one to a tree 

 which stands as a living record of an event in the life of 

 probably the first white man to venture into the heavy 

 forests formerly covering the western slopes of the 

 middle Appalachians. 



Of peculiar interest is the inscription borne by the 

 tree to the effect that 



"D. Boon cillED A BAR On Tree in thE yEAR 1760." 



Because of the natural growth, however, and particularly 

 the great number of initials of persons, States, towns, 

 and dates "nicked" in the bark, no trace of the original 

 inscription is now visible. Its presence on the tree is 

 fully authenticated by historic record. Several old in- 

 habitants living in the region stated to the writer that 

 the inscription remained legible as late as 1875 to 188.->, 

 or from 30 to 40 years ago; and further indicated its 

 location on the upper, or east, side of the tree, at a height 

 of about six feet above the ground. 



The tree is clearly a veteran of long standing. It is a 

 beech, measuring 28^ inches in diameter at breast height 

 (4^ feet above the ground), by about 85 feet in length, 

 and about 44 feet to the first limb. The tree leans toward 

 the south at an angle averaging perhaps 30 degrees. Its 

 wide spreading, thrifty head centers above a point 45 feet 

 distant from its base. The true vertical height of the 

 tree, due to its striking and menacing lean, is Ijetween 

 70 and 75 feet. The tree stands on the smooth, west- 

 facing, moderately steep slope of Carroll Creek which 

 runs into Watauga River somewhat below Boone Creek. 

 A tract of virgin timber, located not more than 100 yards 

 away and composed of trees of oak, poplar, hickory, 

 basswood, and walnut, of very large size and good de- 

 velopment, indicates excellent soil and moisture con- 

 ditions. It is to be regretted that a few years ago the 

 forest tract surrounding the tree was cut over for all 

 the timber except beech which now composes perhaps 

 about one-quarter of the original stand. As a result, the 

 tree is subjected at times to strong wind pressure. 



The superficial roots at the base of the tree are freely 

 exfKDsed and, acted upon by frequent alternate wetting 

 and drying, are subject to the harmful attack of wood- 

 rotting fungi. One strong lateral root, on the upper or 



'The removal of the natural ground cover of shrubs and herbaceous plants allows the sun 

 Erosion then takes place and the effect is marked by the reduced vigor of the tree. 



'As this tree is on privately owned ground, the owner alone should not be expected to defray the cost of preserving this tree 

 as a public monument. Public spirited citizens of the vicinity should be able to secure the permission of the owner to preserve 

 the tree and should find little difficulty in raising the small sum necessary to safeguard this interesting historic possession. 



1105 



r.^<f^: 



sr ,- 



inMiaiJ 





rw^- 



"D. Boon cillED A BAR On Tree in thE yEAR 1760." 



This was the original inscription cut into this great beech tree, it is 

 believed by the famous Daniel Boone. The tree is about 350 years old 

 and is still in prime condition, although it needs protection from soil 

 erosion about the roots. 



grazing of cattle and other stock about the tree is very 

 detrimental,^ and could be prevented by the construction 

 of an enclosure around the tree some 5 to 8 rods square.^ 



to dry out and bake the soil. 



