LETTER VII. 



61 



floods. What remains, however, affords ample room 

 for 7000 persons to repose under its shade, and has a 

 circumference of 2000 feet — measuring, that is to say, 

 round the principal trunks. The overhanging branches 

 cover a much larger space. The chief trunks of this 

 single tree, it may be added, greatly exceed in thick- 

 ness our English Oaks and Elms, and are above 350 

 in number, while the smaller trunks number more 

 than 3000 ; — and every stem is still becoming thicker, 

 and still sending out new branches and hanging roots, 



11. As directly akin to the subject before us, I 

 cannot forbear directing your attention to an enormous 

 plank^ which was some little time ago to be seen at the 

 Bridgewater Canal Yard, Chester Eoad, Manchester ; 

 and wliich had been brought there from Liverpool by 

 the Canal. Its dimensions were — length, 144 feet ; 

 breadth, twenty inches ; and thickness, six inches 

 throughout. It was of a species of wood known as 

 gum-wood, or African Oak, and was imported from 

 Africa into Liverpool during last summer (1851). The 

 tree from which this plank had been sawn must have 

 been of a gigantic height, probably not much less than 

 300 feet.* Its age must have been proportionately 

 great. 



12. Let these examples suffice.f Enough appears 



* The Gardener's Chronicle for July 17, 1852. 

 t One other may be referred to here. At the floral exhibition 

 held in the Crystal Palace, on Saturday, June 2, 1855, there was to 



