18.53.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 325 



MS^P^ ^sG^S 



U^its branches. By a sufficiently near calculation we estimated its total/-© 



Cf weight at 440 tons. 



The tree which is still standing grows yet strongly, without the \ 

 least symptom of weakness, and resembles an immense tower, which 

 rises in the midst of humble Sassafras* — humble, at least, in compa- 

 rison. It measures, at 3 feet from the ground, 102 feet in circumfer- 

 ence, and immediately at its base 130 feet ! The density of the forest 

 deprived us of the means of estimating even approximative^ its height, 

 which must be enormous. Less than 120 feet distance from it, I mea- 

 sured a third tree, which at 3 feet from the ground was 60 ft. in girth, 

 and at 130 feet, the point of starting of the first branch, it must still 

 have had, judging by the eye, at least 40 feet of circumference j it was 

 really a prodigious tree. I am convinced that in the space of a square 

 mile in this locality, could be found at least a hundred trees of the 

 same species as the former, whose trunks would not be less than 40 

 feet round." 



These are certainly fine trees, and the theorists who dream of no- 

 thing but of the acclimatisation of exotic races on the soil of France, 

 will not fail to cry that the Swamp gums are a precious acquisition to 

 make for aboriculture. That is possible, but when we think that these 

 enormous plants have required probably several thousand years to at- 

 tain the size which makes all their merit, we acknowledge that we are 

 discouraged, and that we find it much more easy to go to these places 

 to bring trees already grown, than to sow seeds of which even our 

 grand children will not even gather the produce. This system is less 

 brilliant, less scientific, but it is surer and more expeditious. Those 

 industrious persons understand this, who for a long time have explored 

 with profit the old American forests, and have furnished Europe with 

 immense quantities of excellent wood, which, on the whole, does not 

 come dearer than that of our native trees. Naudin, 



(In the "Revue Horticole") 



* This name is applied here to a large tree of the family of Moni- 

 miacea, Doryphora Sassafras. 



Effect of Electricity on Hops. 



The abbe Berthollon, a distinguished agriculturist, was the first to 

 prove that the hop received a healthful influence from atmospheric 

 electricity. Thus, the crop has been very abundant in our country 

 in the years of frequent storms, accompanied with thunder. The Eng- 

 lish, profiling by this observation of Berthollon, cultivate it on iron 

 rods, which replace the poles and vine props, as being a better con- 

 ductor of electricity. L 



•j This upright is 35 feet high, and is bound to others like it by double G\ 



fe>bs. „ . . . S&&M 



\ 



