A Curious Freak of Nature

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


We have received a letter of interest from J E Holmes, of Newark, Ohio, who informs us that there is a white oak tree, of fine healthy growth, standing near Robinson's Coal Oil Works, in Perry county, on which, at fiftyfive feet from the ground, is engrafted a black oak top of lofty and vigorous growth It is about two feet in diameter at the usual bight of cutting trees, and the body stock is fourteen inches at the grafting portion, and the black oak immediately above it at once enlarges to twentytwo inches The grafting is represented as being of the most perfect description, and there is no appearance of deterioration in either the white or black oak portions There are several limbs below the union, and those above are said to be equal to any tree of the same description in that section of the country, and would form a luxuriant and proper superstructure for a stock of three feet in diameter The only reasonable supposition for this curious growth is, that the white oak portion was broken by the falling of a black oak tree near it, and that a branch of the latter must have been so driven into the fracture as to unite and grow in a firm manner to produce the singular phenomenon above related f i

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 31This article was published with the title “A Curious Freak of Nature” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 31 (), p. 245
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican04101858-245b

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe