SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XXIII. No. 570 



next year we may be able to give the intensity of the 

 sounds heard, with an approach to absolute accuracy. 



The results thus far obtained, however, are such as a 

 captain of a vessel coming onto our coast in a fog and a 

 gale would be apt to get. It is for him the fog-signals 

 are established, and I have tried to put myself in his 

 place and to hear with his tired and strained ears the 

 sounds which must be distinguished and differentiated 

 from the shrieking of the wind, the creaking of the 

 cordage, the ra,ttle of the machinery and the roar of the 

 surf. 



If he has heard aright the sound of the fog-signal and 

 can tell from the length of its blast and the following in- 

 terval of silence which one of the several fog-signais in 

 that vicinity it is, he is certain of his position. 



The experiments thus far made and the observations 

 taken are to make sure that the mariner can hear aright 

 what he does hear, and to provide against his acting upon 

 errors in hearing, which, if acted on, may place his ship 

 in peril. 



SASSAFKAS TREES. 



BY WALTER J. QUICK, COLUMBIA, MO. 



• As BEING of some scientific interest, it is worthy our at- 

 tention to note the marvelous growth that ten trees of 

 the above well-known variety have acquired here in Mis- 

 souri — a growth that is so exceptional of this species that 

 it has not been observed elsewhere in the United States. 

 The Sassafras officinale, of the order Lauracece, the Laurel 

 family, is very seldom known as little more than a shrub 

 or bush and generally as growing poorly or not at all on 

 fertile soil. In truth, it is looked upon as being in its 

 native element in company with and growing on thin 

 land. This is not a fact, but the opinion prevails since 

 old and worn-out fields, depleted of their fertility in 

 greater part, when abandoned, grow up to "brush," not 

 the least profuse of which is the sassafras. It is a native 

 of America and has been found in every State in the 

 Union, growing much more abundant on poverty-stricken 

 soil, but more luxuriant and larger in proportion, we con- 

 clude, as the per cent of humus in the soil increases. In 

 the poor, white clay lands of the New England States 

 and some parts of Indiana, Kansas and this State we 

 have observed it growing where it seems to sprout pro- 

 fusely and does not reach a height of over twelve feet, 

 usually six or eight feet, while in the same States on 

 richer land it will not be found in thick profusion, but 

 scattered and attaining almost to the dignity of a tree in 

 size. 



Recently it was our pleasure to visit the beautiful farm 

 of Mr. T. B. Hickman, near Columbia, Mo. During our 

 stay we were shown the various interests of the owner, 

 and our attention was summoned to some peculiar trees 

 of the sassafras variety. Their difference from others of 

 this species consists in their vigorous growth and extreme 

 size, being the largest any one present had ever seen or 

 of which we had in any way known. This preter- 

 natural development inspired us to investigation. They 

 exhibited on measurement the surprising circumference 

 of 80 to 82 inches — a diameter of over 26 inches. As the 

 bark is thick and rough, similar to walnut, the diameter 

 of the solid wood is not likely this much, but fully two 

 feet. By triangulation we ascertained the height to be 

 about fifty-five feet, and the whole ten will not vary much 

 from these measurements. 



While there is very little indication of decay, as a 

 matter of fact, these trees are fully grown for this 



variety. Their location is very auspicious for the growth 

 they have made, being the low, rich and moist soil of 

 Bonne Famme creek bottom. The writer has never seen 

 larger trees, and is unable to learn of larger specimens on 

 this continent, with the exceistion of the species of sassa- 

 fras of California and the western slope of the Rocky 

 Mountains, known as Oreodaphne Galifornica, which at- 

 tains a still larger size "in the land of big trees." The 

 aroma from the leaves of this variety is more pungent, 

 in fact, so much so as to occasion excessive sneezing, fre- 

 quently during high winds. It has a greater reputation 

 medicinally than ours, though the importance of the 

 latter is by no means small. 



Our officinale species has been introduced into England 

 as Sassafras laurus. As is usual with anything imported, 

 they appreciate it more as medicine than we do. A tree 

 near the Royal Gardens at Kew has attained a height of 

 about fifty feet, and is said to be over 110 years old. As 

 there are no other figures given, we cannot compare the 

 size with that of the Hickman trees, but the height is not 

 so great. 



Almost every country has one or more species of this 

 tree, all said to differ in some characteristic from ours, 

 but all having the same odor and similar aromatic, 

 sweetish taste. But one country has larger trees. Those 

 of New Zealand grow to a height of 100 to 150 feet. 

 This tree appears in every clime, and is described as hav- 

 ing "a large head of horizontal branches." The fruit is 

 a small, black drupe, which is not palatable, but is eaten 

 by birds. The sassafras oil of commerce is made from 

 these seeds and the buds. The leaves of our sjsecies are 

 very dark green, rather thick, broad, oblong and ellip- 

 tical. 



In Italy it is more like the American species than any 

 other, and is known as Sassafrasso. The word comes from 

 the Latin, saxum, a stone, and frango, I brake, so named be- 

 cause it was believed that the use of the tea made from it 

 would desolve the gall stones of the bladder and prevent 

 their formation. 



In the southern states sassafras grows to the size of 

 trees, generally small, but very abundant. The air is 

 said to be more pregnant with its aroma than further north, 

 and it can be detected a great distance at sea. The bark 

 seems to be more fragrant, too, when steeped. 



Sassafras tea is veiy popular in many sections of the 

 countries where the tree grows. The bark of the roots 

 is kept everywhere for sale, for that purpose. In addition 

 to its use as a table beverage it is emjDloyed as a tonic 

 and constitutional stimulant. In those localities where 

 the sugar-maple tree is a native and abundant a very 

 delightful drink is made from the "sugar- water," or sap 

 and bark of the sassafras root. It makes the finest tea 

 in the spring when the sap is forming and is then 

 drunk mostly to resuscitate the system, improving the 

 appetite and aiding the digestion. It is also valuable for 

 boils, pimples and eruptions of all sorts, as well as for 

 rheumatism. 



The pith of the new growth and sprouts contains a 

 gum or mucilage, used in eye medicines, as being impor- 

 tant in reducing inflammation and granulations. This pro- 

 duct is also prepared in the form of a drink for diseases 

 of the kidneys, catarrhal troubles and dysentery. 



In many localities there is perhaps no more popular 

 farmers' remedy for diseases of horses. It is administered 

 by grinding the root bark to a powder and giving it in 

 the feed, or by preparing a decoction with which the feed 

 is mixed. Frequently the roots are placed in the horse's 

 feed trough, and he is permitted to bark them himself, 

 which he willingly does, apparently with much relish. 

 In the spring it greatly improves his appetite, strengthens 

 him and assists in shedding and sleeking his coat. 



