Ogden Daily Standard | 1916-09-02 | Page 13 | Lightning Strikes Certain Trees

LIGHTNING STRIKES CERTAIN TREES Recent" statistics have been collected collect-ed in different parts of Germany as to the danger of different varieties of trees being struck by lightning. Tho result has been the following percentages: percent-ages: Oak, 82.1; lnrch, 9.5; fir, S.S; pine, 1.8; Scotch fir, 0.9; birch, 1.4; beech, 9.3, and alder, 0.0. The character of the soil is an Important Im-portant factor among others as to the llgtning danger. Trees growing in moist soils and nlong the courses of rivers and brooks and In the neighborhood neigh-borhood of ponds are especially ox-posed ox-posed to the danger. Trees with deep penetrating roots are more easily struck than those with shallow roots nearer tho surface. As proof of this Js tho greater frequency of the apple tree being struck than the pear In the same orchard. It is also stated that the poplar stands first in danger before be-fore the oak, elm, ash, gum and pear tree. Together with the beooh tho least attractive to lightning are chestnut, chest-nut, maple, alder and mountain ash. Betwoon those two groups stand tho apple, cherry, linden and wnlnut. During thunder storms it 1b advisable advisa-ble thereforo, to avoid oaks, poplars, all varletios of pine, willows, elm and pear. If shelter is taken sunder a tree, which is always dangerous, it i should not be under one standing alone. The planting of trees which attract at-tract lightning is recommended in the neighborhood of houses, especially poplars, partly to prevent the possibility possi-bility of the rebounding of the light ning. It is well to provide such trees jH with metallic rods to make them jH really effective conductors of light- jH ning. Consul Talbot J. Albert, Bruns- IH " 1