'9 



A considerable number of the trees growing in this territory show 

 the effects of earth discharges and in some cases they have been 

 replaced for the third time only to be mutilated and disfigured by 

 electrical discharges. These discharges occur during thunder- 

 storms, and Mr. C. F. Jackson who has these trees under his super- 

 vision and has observed them for many years relates that the dis- 

 charge gives rise to a dull characteristic report, resembling the 

 effect of throwing a wet cloth on a hard surface. The discharo-e 

 however, does not affect the whole tree, but only part of it. Such for 

 example, as one side of the trunk and one or more of the limbs 



usually the lower 

 ones on the same 

 side as that portion 

 of the trunk affect- 

 ed. The first indi- 

 cation of the dis- 

 charges are shown 

 by the wilting of the 

 leaves of the affect- 

 ed limbs which re- 

 sults in their drying 

 up and dying, with 

 the subsequent loss 

 of the limbs. In 

 the course of time 

 creases can be seen 

 on the trunk show- 

 ing the path of the 

 discharge, and occa- 

 sionally when the 

 injury is considera- 

 ble the bark falls off 

 near that portion 

 affected. The limbs, 

 however, are not 



Fig. 12. Slwajing the effect of earth discharges -^ 1 \\' a )• s killed, 

 through the tree, causing splitting of the tnt/ik and i\\oug\\ frequently 

 destruction of Itjubs. The arrows indicate badiv , . , ■ , 



spat limbs. ' -^ becoming split; (see 



Fig. T 2) and a split- 



