THE VEGETATION OF THE LOWER WABASH VALLEY. 663 
trunk being sometimes a tall arrow-like shaft, equalling the finest 
Conifere in straightness and gradual taper, the first ‘branches 
being ninety to a hundred feet above the ground; but oftener, 
on the other hand, it is short and bulky, ten, fifteen or even 
rarely twenty feet in diameter, and only fifteen or twenty feet 
high, where three or four gigantic trunks separate and rise into a 
lofty massive head. The tallest of these sycamores rise appar- 
ently for one-third their height above the tree-top level of the 
forest, and are thus probably not less than two hundred feet in 
height. 
TULIP TREE (Liriodendron tulipifera). 
Height 1427y feet. Mean of 19 trees. 
oink. Gof. _* tee ee ae 
Cire. 193 ‘r E ipe 
The second tree in size and very commonly of the above dimen- 
sions. The finest individual found prostrate was one cut for lumber 
near Timberville, Wabash County, Illinois ; it measured one hun- 
dred and fifty-eight feet in total length, while the trunk was 
twenty-three feet in circumference three feet from the base, and 
eighteen feet in circumference at seventy-four feet further up, 
where the first branch grew ; the trunk perfectly sound and symmet- 
rical throughout. ; 
PECAN (Carya olivæformis). 
Height 170 feet. Mean of 3 trees. 
Trunk 85 66 ee ee 
“Cire. 152 66 ee a 
One of the most symmetrical and majestic of all our trees; the 
trunk clean, straight and long, and the head spreading And slightly 
drooping, usually elevated sixty to ninety feet from the ground. 
warre Asu (Fraxinus Americana). 
Height 1403 feet. Mean of 2 trees. 
Trunk 794 (z3 t ugo t 
Cire. 14 & tras u 
Also one of our finest trees; the trunk long and slightly taper- 
ing, though generally less straight than that of the pecan and 
_ “Spanish oak,” and with the top less spreading. 
