GROWING GOLD. 67 



patch of trees, about an acre, planted, it was 

 stated, forty-five years ago ; the trees consist 

 principally of Spanish chesnut; there are 

 also beech, birch, and a few oaks. 



Inches in 

 circumference. 



Oak, branched and feathered, . . 33 



North Spanish chesnut, 37 



East ditto, 32 



South ditto, 50 



West ditto, 33 



Thus, the average circumference of the 

 ' four nearest Spanish chesnut is thirty-eight 

 inches, it being evidently the crop intended ; 

 they grow well together, but even under the 

 disadvantage of being branched and feathered 

 on the stem, from having too much space, 

 the size of the oak, when compared with that 

 of the other trees near it, varies so little, that 

 the deficiency is amply compensated by its 

 acknowledged superiority for general purposes. 

 On the west side of this patch the trees are not 

 so large, and are stunted from standing much 

 thinner; several of the Spanish chesnuts 



