A Lightning-Struck Tree in Kern Canon. 27 



shock, as compared with non-explosive, may possibly find an 

 analogy in a comparison of dynamite and powder. Dynamite, 

 as is well known, does not produce ignition, while powder, 

 which is relatively slow burning, usually causes ignition. It 

 has been suggested to me that under certain conditions the tree 

 may behave like a condenser ; that is, the crown, with its numer- 

 ous branches, may receive many currents, which find in the 

 trunk a poor conductor when the trunk is dry, and in the earth 

 a good conductor. The shock under such circumstances is fed 

 off slowly into the earth, and the cause of a fire starting may be 

 due, possibly, to this comparatively slow action. 



f rank and toealtti toit^tn t^e mmD abide, 

 Clien gilDeu ijusft 10 all ^our lloto golu^ 

 lims0 in ttieir fretted palaces groto old; 

 goutt) dtoells? foreber at Contentment's? s^tde. 

 mifift^cloud Ranging at tbe riber'fi? brim, 

 pink almond f lotoersf along tbe purple bougti, 

 31 but rose^girdled under moon^0tuept s?bie0; 

 ^ painted bridge \^d\i^^^ttn in s^badotDfi? dim,— 



€be0e are tbe splendours? of tbe poor, and tl^ou, 

 dreamful toine, tbe bintage of tbe toise* 



— SsU-Kung Vu, 834-908 A. D. 



