MR WITHERS. 



203 



mate have no doubt considerable influence, both in 

 forming the variety, and in modifying it while 

 growing. Of varieties, those which have the thinnest 

 bark, under equal exposure, have the hardest wood. 



No. 4. We have cut a number of large old ash trees, 

 and found, with one or two exceptions, of what is cal- 

 led thunder-struck trees (which we consider only an 

 obdurate variety), that they were invariably of very 

 free, weak consistency, more especially the latter 

 formed growths, but even the earlier growths had 

 become /rw^A from age. This timber soon went to 

 decay after being cut down : — one piece cut out into 

 planks, and these being laid down in the order they 

 occupied in the log, was in the course of some weeks 

 rendered again entire by being agglutinated by 

 Jew's ears (a species of fungus.) The workmen were 

 greatly startled at the fact, thinking the log be- 

 witched. When immediately dissevered by wedges, 

 the wood was so much decomposed, that its fibre 

 was tenderer than the Jew's ears, separating in a 

 new course in most places, in preference to the saw 

 draught occupied by the ears. We have found very 

 old oaks have exactly the same friable character, so 

 much so, as render their safe felling almost impossi- 

 ble ; yet this oak timber had not lost much in weight 



