113 



years' growth contains about thirty- six knots; each shoots out 

 monthly, like the extension of a telescope. The central pith, or 

 heart of the trees, varies from the centre according to the angle 

 of the hill on which they grow, the roots being generally more 

 extended from the trunk down the hill than they are on the 

 upper side, and consequently feeding stronger : the transverse 

 sections of the trees on such declivities exhibit elliptical rings, 

 very wide on the side of the strong roots, and diminish to mere 

 lines on the opposite side, as shown in the following sketch. 



That the moon has an influence on the ocean is a fact well 

 known, although not such as is usually represented according to 

 the established theory of the tides. It is said " that the moon 

 attracts the ocean ; that is, when any part of the surface of the 

 sea is turned towards the moon the water is drawn towards it, 

 and raised into a tide, which falls again when the place is turned 

 away from the moon. The water rises to the same extent on the 

 side opposite the moon ; so that there is always high water on 

 the two opposite sides of the globe at the same time. Let A B 

 C D represent the earth, and M the moon, and let the surface 

 at B next the moon, and that at D, opposite, consist of water/' 

 c 



e- 



It is said, " as the force of attraction is greater in proportion to 

 nearness, and less in proportion to distance, the moon will exert 

 her greatest influence in the waters at B, which accordingly 

 will be drawn towards the moon to F, and their surface will 

 form the dotted curve. The waters on the opposite side being 

 further from the moon than the earth, the moon will attract it 



i 



