Burbank.] 216 [January 5, 



firmly. The branches are flattened, distorted and covered with irreg- 

 ular knobs. The fruit does not ripen till late in autumn, and often 

 remains on the trees till April or May of the next year. 1 



In fact the tree as it grows in Massachusetts differs from the wes- 

 tern variety very much as the Beech and Yellow Birch of high 

 mountain tops in New England, differ from the same species in fertile 

 and sheltered valleys. The dense, bushy character of the top is pro- 

 duced by an annual "heading in" through the frosts of every winter, 

 by which the buds on the ends of "the slender twigs of the previous 

 summer's growth are generally killed. 



In nearly all descriptions of this tree which I have seen, the color 

 of the wood is incorrectly stated. When properly seasoned and 

 again cut and smoothed after seasoning, it is of a bright straw color, 

 and very handsome. If cut while green, the surface, on drying, 

 assumes a dark, greenish brown color, from some chemical change 

 that takes place in the sap. Nuttall says of the European species, 

 li Next to ebony and box it surpasses all others in durability, strength 

 and beauty. It is esteemed for works of sculpture, for it never con- 

 tracts nor cracks." This description will apply equally well to the 

 American species as it grows in Massachusetts. 



Mr. Russell of Providence, who was present, read from his 

 his note-book some further illustrations of this subject. He 

 also gave the following measurements of a remarkable sassa- 

 fras tree at Cranston, R. I. : circumference at ground, 14 ft. 

 2 in. ; at 2 ft. from the ground, 11 ft. 10J in., from which 

 point the circumference hardly diminishes to the height of 

 the branches, 11 ft. from the ground. The height of the tree 

 is 49J ft. 



The following article was added to Section IV of the By- 

 Laws. 



Article 3. Members who are absent from New England during 

 the whole year, commencing on the first day of October, shall be 

 exempt from the annual assessment for such year, provided that they 

 givenotice of their intended absence to the Secretary. 



1 A very minute and accurate description of the species as it occurs in this State, 

 with a plate representing a fine specimen now standing in Lowell, may he found in 

 the new edition of the work of Mr. Emerson referred to ahove. 



