de 
Large Trees in Western New York. 397 
As for old Kilauea, it remains much as when I last wrete you. 
The whole pit and all the banks resemble a vast area of smoul- 
dering ruins. Smoke and steam are constantly issuing frem 4 
ten thousand nostrils of the old fire goddess, but Pele seems ina 
state of steaming stupefaction. An oceasional gleam of light 
flashes from her half opened eyes. No lake of fusion has been 
opened since my last letter, and no important changes have taken 
place in the great dome, the cones, the ridges of debris, and in 
the general internal area of the crater. No sympathy has been 
noticed between Kilauea and the late mountaiu eruption. 
Arr. XXXIX. rhc of some large wid in Western New 
: by 8. B. Buck 
Tue large trees in Western New York are fast disappearing, 
before the demands of civilization: which annually destroy thou- 
sands. Nor is man their only enemy. Many die from the wounds 
inflicted by insects, especially the white oaks (Quercus alba,) 
thus compelling their owners to cut them down and adapt them 
to present use instead of preserving them for the benefit of pos- 
terity. The time is not far distant when Genesee flour will be 
carried to market in sacks because staves cannot be obtained 
sufficient to make the barrels. - 
‘The following is a sketch of. a few of the large trees yet re- 
maining. . Of these, the “Big Tree” near Geneseo is the most 
worthy of attention. It may be well to remark that it is said 
that many years ago there was a black waluut (Juglans nigra) 
ou the Genesee river which was 16 feet in diameter. Its trunk 
was hollow and was sometimes. used as a temporary dwelling. 
It is certain that a large tree on the Genesee river near Geneseo 
attracted the notice of the early settlers of western New York. 
One of their first roads leading from Canandaigna to Genesco, 
via the foot of Honeoye lake was long known as the “ Big ‘T 
road.” In volume second of the Documentary History of the State 
of New York isa map of Western New York, published in 1809, 
on which the “ Big Tree” is laid down as being on the Genesee 
river. The native Indians had long known this corpulent: giaut 
of their woods and named one of their chiefs the “ Big Tree’ o 
“Great Tree.” A section of this tree was conve to New 
York via the Canal arid Hudson river about 15 years ago where 
it was used as a grocery. 
There is a big tree still alive (July, 1851) on the banks of the 
Genesee river, about a mile from the village of Geneseo. It is 
a swamp white oak, (Quercus bicolor, Wild.) At the height of 
abont 2U feet its body sends fore bribes large branches, many 
of which are now dead. The little in size from the 
