OTHER WELL-KNOWN TREES 



SO skilfully done that no artificial effect has 

 been added to the general appearance of the 

 tree and it bids fair to last for another century. 

 The only tree in Massachusetts which, at 

 maturity, has ever approached the Rugg Elm 

 in the grandeur of its spreading branches 

 is the elm which stands on the Knowlton 

 farm in West Acton. This super-elm lost 

 over half of its branches about three years 

 ago, when they fell of their own weight in 

 a very ordinary gale. Timely assistance 

 would have preserved this tree for more 

 than a generation. It has long been credited 

 with possessing the greatest spread of any 

 elm in this section of the country, and the 

 remaining half section covers fully a hundred 

 feet of ground. The largest limb, which 

 was shorn off and still lies where it fell, 

 is II feet and 4 inches in circumference. 

 It would seem as if strength had been sacri- 

 ficed for beauty, and as if a noble head had 

 at last fallen from shoulders too weak to 

 support it. The trunk is fourteen feet, eight 

 and a half inches in circumference and 

 thoroughly sound. The height of the tree 



C 127II 



