NATURAL HISTORY. 
created, to support a second growth of timber, the roots of which passed over those of the 
preceding, and so on with a third, or more—until at length the singular spectacle was exhibited 
of seveal stages of trees growing at the same time. Such seems a natural way of viewing the 
subject—but it is often stated that one stump is found actually on the top of another, which would 
imply that the lower tree had been destroyed before the turf had ascended to the level of the broken 
stump. In such an instance, using Mr. Griffith’s example of the rate of increase of recent bog, 
and supposing it compressed by growth into -|-th of its original bulk, little more than one 
hundred years would have elapsed between the two periods. However, as but one decided 
example has come under actual observation in this parish, though many are spoken of by 
the country people, it is more probable that the evident superposition of roots, and the differ¬ 
ence of level, have in many cases led to the idea of one tree being actually over the other—a 
phenomenon, which, even when it does occur, is easily explained by the decay of some of the 
older trees in the progress of successive growth already explained. This effect is to be natu¬ 
rally expected as the consequence of age, and equally so of the accumulation of turf over 
the roots and stumps, tending to facilitate the separation of the trunk, by forwarding its 
decay at the point of junction with the stump. It is indeed remarkable that, in the lower 
and larger stumps, this separation of the trunk appears to have taken place close to the 
stump, which exhibits a jagged edge around its circumference, whilst in the trees of the higher 
stratum there is usually a considerable portion of trunk attached to the stump, the tops of the trunks 
frequently rising above the surface. The example of tree existing above tree, already referred 
to, is singular, inasmuch as the lower one is a prostrate stem ; but it is necessary to bear in mind, 
that as the progress of the growth of bog commences at the edges of the pools, or marshes, trees 
mio-ht have there grown, fallen, and sunk, before the internal parts had been filled and consolidated ; 
and, also, that the great weight of some of these trees may have sunk them deeper in the bog 
than they had stood when first beginning to grow. A very interesting experiment, by Professor 
Lindley, is detailed in the 17th Part of the “ Fossil Flora,” from which it appears that the ConifercB 
are amongst the very few dicotyledonous plants, which, when dead, resist the action of water : 
the experiment, however, was continued only through two years, and it may be doubted whether, 
as a rule, it would apply to the living tree. 
In this parish the bog has been so much cut down that it is difficult to estimate its depth 
From 10 to 15 feet may, however, be taken as a close approximation in the deeper parts, 
from which it gradually shallows towards the sides of the basins, or troughs, containing it. The 
trees have been of large size. In Ballymagrorty bog one may be observed, having six principal 
roots, each of which is If. 6i. deep, from lOi. to If. 4i. broad, and extends 4f. from the 
stump, without any marked diminution, at which distance it bifurcates. 
In Shantallow bog a principal root measured If. 1 Ox. square—its form approaching that 
figure,—and these were by no means exceptions, nor examples of great size. The largest 
Scotch fir at present growing in the parish is at Brook Hall: at the height of If. 3i. from 
the ground it is 10f. 8i. in circumference. To estimate the actual size of the bog trunks is 
difficult, owing to the decay and wearing-away of the external surface ; but the size of the 
roots supports the deduction that many must have greatly exceeded this tree in size, and still 
more equalled it. 
Combining all these phenomena together, the mind is irresistibly led to contemplate that 
ancient condition of the parish, when its hills looked over an extent of marsh and morass, where 
waved a noble forest of lofty firs, the deep green foliage of which was only here and there broken 
and enlivened by clustering oaks. 
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