THE LONGEVITY OF TREES. 87 



and twenty or one hundred and thirty years old. We wish 

 to place its size upon record for the use of future genera- 

 tions ; and we therefore take this opportunity to state, that 

 the trunk of the " Washington Elm," at Cambridge, now 

 measures thirteen feet and two and a half inches in circum- 

 ference, at the height of three feet from the ground ; this 

 being the point at which the girth is smallest, being unaf- 

 fected either by the expansion of the roots below, or of the 

 branches above, and therefore the proper place to measure it 

 for this purpose. That this size is conformable to the age as- 

 signed is apparent from a comparison with other trees ; such, 

 for instance, as the " Aspinwall Elm, in Brookline, standing 

 near the ancient house belonging to the family of that name, 

 and which was known to be one hundred and eighty-one years 

 old in 1837, when it measured sixteen feet eight inches at five 

 feet from the ground, and twenty-six feet five inches close by 

 the surface." 1 The noted Elm upon Boston Common should 

 be about the same age. Its present girth, at five feet from 

 the ground, is sixteen feet and one inch ; at the height of 

 three feet it measures seventeen feet eleven inches ; near the 

 earth, twenty-three feet and six inches. We have seen a map 

 of Boston, published in the year 1720, upon which this Elm 

 is delineated as a large tree. Its age, therefore, is certainly 

 as great as that assigned to it in the subjoined account, which 

 recently appeared in the newspapers of the day ; — we know 

 not upon what authority. 2 



1 We quote the manuscript of an esteemed friend, who has devoted 

 much attention to the history and growth of trees, and whose long ex- 

 pected volume, on the trees of New England, we hope will soon be given 

 to. the public. 



2 As such data may hereafter possess some interest, we may simply 

 state, that the large "English Elm," one of the finest trees on Boston 

 Common, is now eleven feet two inches in girth, at five feet from the 

 ground ; and twelve feet three inches, at the height of three feet. The 

 American Elm, near the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, in front of the 

 house of Judge Phillips, has a girth of thirteen feet, at six feet from the 

 earth, and of fifteen feet, three feet lower down. Its neighbor, opposite 

 the gardener's residence, is fourteen feet three inches in circumference, 

 at six feet from the ground. (MSS. note in Dr. Gray's handwriting. 

 1874, Phillip's 14-9|, Sander's 15-7f ) 



