On some Effects of Lightning

IN several letters lately published in NATURE, an explosion in or by a tree trunk is mentioned. Such an explosion occurred here during the great storm of July 12 last. The lightning struck an old crab-tree, at the base of the trunk, and exactly at the ground-line. The crab was growing on the top of a grassy bank. The lightning tore the bank open from top to bottom, tore open and splintered the roots of the crab, and threw pieces of roots and turf, all in one direction, for 21 feet; the turf was in large pieces, of about a foot cube.