98 
BOTANICAL INDEX 
MORE BIG TREES IN INDIANA. 
M., OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 
N the April number of tlie Index our friend Kev. B. W. Smith has given a 
very interesting notice of some of the “Big Trees of Indiana,” which no 
doubt was a real surprise, to many of your readers, especially those who have 
9 never seen the wonderful productions of that garden of the West, the Wabash 
't valley. Now iny business requires my constant attention at my office, or 
when temporarily called to a neighboring town or city I feel compelled to 
make the trip with all possible dispatch, consequently I have never had the pleasure 
of seeing any of these vegetable giants in all their glory, ho\Vever, I read with great 
pleasure of the observations and investigations of others, and wishing for the ad- 
vancement of our own st^te in this search after knowledge, I will with your consent 
call attention to a few objects of interest as recorded in the annual reports of the 
State Geological Survey. I really expected some one more familiar with the subject 
than myself would prepare a supplementary article for publication either in your 
Index or some other kindred publication, but as none appeared in the July number 
I fear none will be attempted in the next unless 1 do it, so will make the effort. 
Perhaps it may not be amiss in this connection to say that the Lower Wabash Valley 
is considered by competent judges to be the richest and most productive body of land 
within the limits of the United States, and challenges the world to produce such 
crops or even individual specimens of corn as grow here with very ordinary cultiva- 
tion. Now the original forest was composed of a corresponding luxuriant growth 
of undergrowth, vines and timber until removed by the early settlers, which in 
most cases was was either ruthlessly destroyed and wasted or employed 'in only 
nominal uses, for which the supply of a less valuable timber was amply abundant. 
Again, the luxuriant growth and sheltered position of timber in this valley, also 
served as a protection to many southern forms of plants and trees which are found 
in no other portion of the country of equal latitude, hence, it is one of the most de- 
sirable localities in the country for studying and comparing a Northern and South- 
ern flora in a natural condition. Of course the true southern forms would not reach 
the high state of perfection at their very northern limit that they would further 
south, but here they are found in most excellent condition, flowering and fruiting 
quite freely, and (if trees) reaching nearly their normal growth. But probably in 
no part of the country was there such an enormous quantity of such extra large and 
fine Black Walnut found as was here originally seen, which all agriculturists have 
long since learned was a sure indication of very superior land. The list, I find, reads 
as follows, all of which are frbm* the lower Wabash : 
Latin Name. 
Common Name. 
3 Feet fkom) 
the Ground. 
To the First 
Branch. 
Total 
Height. 
Acer sacckarinum 
Sugar Maple 
12 ft. 6 in. 
60 feet. 
118 feet. 
13 ft. 
GO “ 
108 “ 
15 ft. 
GO “ 
Pecan 
16 ft. 
90 “ 
175 “ 
10 ft. 4 ill. 
55 “ 
112 “ 
6 ft. 
48 “ 
101 “ 
5 ft. 6 in. 
80 “ 
115 “ 
11 ft. 
10 “ 
122 “ 
17 ft. G in. 
90 “ 
144 “ 
IS ft. 
01 “ 
129 “ 
Black Walnut w 
22 ft. 
74 44 
155 “ 
17 ft. 
80 “ 
164 “ 
25 ft. 
91 “ 
190 “ 
Red Mulberry 
10 ft. G in. 
20 “ 
62 “ 
33 ft. 4 iu. 
G8 “ 
176 “ 
Cottonwood 
22 ft. 
75 “ 
170 « 
Quej'cus alba 
White Oak 
18 ft. 
GO “ 
94 44 
150 44 
181 44 
Black Oak 
20 ft. 
75 “ 
160 41 
22 ft. 
72 “ 
165 44 
12 ft. 
25 “ 
120 44 
7 ft. 0 in. 
75 “ 
95 44 
Basswood 
17 ft. G in. 
50 “ 
109 “ 
18 ft. 9 in. 
74 “ 
14G 44 
Grape Vine 
32 in. 
150 “ 
Trumpet Vine 
38% in. 
75 “ 
Sicyos angulatus 
Single Seed Wild Cucumber... 
| 63 “ 
