38 



The divining rods of the ore and water hunters are 

 said to be made from the branches of this tree ; but in 

 England one of the elms is called "wych elm," and a 

 hornbeam "witch hazel," and their branches may be 

 used there for a similar purpose. The efficacy of these 

 witch-sticks will in all probability be defended by 

 believers and laughed at by sceptics, as of old. 



The liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua) is not 

 perfectly hardy in this region, although some trees at 

 the Henry Cleveland place in Danvers have grown well 

 for a number of years. The leaves somewhat resemble 

 those of the red maple, but they are more pointed. 

 The fruit is a curious little ball bristling with beak-like 

 points which enclose the seeds. It is a tree which 

 ought to be experimented with here, as it is interesting 

 in many ways. 



June thirtieth. 



