MossValley Home
Tree-ology, a trees riddle
Transcript from
Notes & Queries, 1888
[There had evidently been an original question in Notes & Queries which is not to hand, but the following were the replies printed.]
Response 1:
I have a manuscript copy of the verses that your correspondent asks for, but I have never yet seen them in print, and they are as follows. My copy is headed "Tree-ology".
(1)
What's the sociable tree, [1] and the dancing tree, [2]
And the tree [3] that is nearest the sea;
The most yielding tree, [4] the busiest tree, [5]
And the tree [6] where ships may be?
(2)
The languishing tree, [7] the least selfish tree, [8]
And the tree [9] that bears a curse;
The chronologist's tree, [10] the fisherman's tree, [11]
And the tree [12] like an Irish nurse?
(3)
The tell-tale tree, [13] and the traitor tree, [14]
And the tree [15] that's the warmest clad;
The layman's restraint, [16] and the housewife's tree, [17]
And the tree [18] that makes one sad?
(4)
The tree [19] that with death befrights you,
The tree [20] that your wants would supply,
The tree [21] that to travel invites you,
And the tree [22] that forbids you to die?
(5)
What tree [23] do the thunders resound to the skies,
What brightens your house, does your mansion sustain; [24]
What urged the Germans in vengeance to rise, [25]
And strike for the victor by tyranny slain? [26]
(6)
The tree [27] that will fight, and the tree [28] that obeys you,
And the tree [29] that never stands still;
The tree [30] that got up, and the tree [31] that is lazy,
And the tree [32] neither up nor down hill?
(7)
The tree [33] to be kissed, and the dandiest tree, [34]
And that guides the ships to go forth; [35]
The tree [36] of the people, the unhealthiest tree, [37]
And the tree [38] whose wood faces the north?
(8)
The tree [39] in a battle, the tree [40] in a fog,
And the tree [41] that bids the joints pain;
The terrible tree [42] when schoolmasters flog,
And what of mother and child bears the name? [43]
(9)
The emulous tree, [44] the industrious tree, [45]
And the tree [46] that warms mutton when cold;
The reddest brown tree [47] and the reddest blue tree, [48]
And what each must become ere he's old? [49]
(10)
The treacherous tree, [50] the contemptible tree, [51]
And that to which wines are inclined; [52]
The tree [53] that causes each townsman to flee,
And what round fair ankles are twined! [54]
(11)
The tree [55] that's entire, and the tree [56] that is split,
The tree [57] half given by doctors when ill;
The tree [58] that we offer to friends when we meet,
And the tree [59] we may use as a quill?
(12)
The tree [60] that's immortal, and the trees [61] that are not,
And the tree [62] that must pass through the fire;
The tree [63] that in Latin can ne'er be forgot,
And in English we all most admire? [64]
(13)
The Egyptian plague tree,[65] the tree [66] that is dear,
And what round itself doth entwine; [67]
The tree [68] that in billiards must ever be near,
And the tree [69] that by Cockneys is turned into wine?
You will perceive by the above that about seventy different trees are mentioned, and I believe my copy to be complete. To these seventy I give forty-five of the names [see below], and shall be pleased to learn the others from some of your correspondents.
C. GOLDING, Colchester.
Response 2
The poem consists of fourteen verses, in which seventy-two trees are referred to. I omitted to note the source from which I obtained it many years ago, but if the enquirer will furnish me with his address I will supply him with a copy, as well as the answer to each riddle.
EVERARD HOME COLEMAN, 71 Brecknock Road.
N&Q also added the following note to this correspondence:
Other versions, differing in some respects, are sent by various contributors. The above, which we have slightly altered by the aid of the others, is the longest.
Notes and Solutions
As you can see, between the two correspondents is a discrepancy between the number of trees mentioned in the riddle. The first, Mr Golding, has it with 69 contained in 13 verses, whereas the second, Mr Coleman, mentions 72 trees and 14 verses. There's also no knowing if all Mr Golding's solutions (given below) are correct, though most seem more than plausible (however, given that the idea must be to have no repetition, one is certainly doubtful with Ash given for both 46 and 62: the latter seems more likely to me). There's no further correspondence on this topic in the Notes & Queries volume I have, but a previous owner of the book has pencilled in 'Damson' as the answer for 43, which also seems a good guess.
The definition of 'tree' is rather elastic in the riddle, with some of the most plausible and probably correct names belonging to plants and shrubs.
Nowadays the riddle appears in several locations on the web, but as far as I can tell nowhere has more than twelve verses: the fifth in the N&Q version above is missing and consequently only 65 names are involved. A few offer solutions (in particular a page at Thinks.com), and many tally with Mr Golding's thoughts in N&Q, but opinions do vary and no one seems to have them all!
It's a pity the second correspondent in 1888, Mr Coleman, didn't supply the full version with 14 verses, 72 'trees', and all the answers! If anyone can help out with the definitive verse and solutions
,
otherwise there can never be any 'right' answers. Meanwhile suggestions for the blanks in what we already have are welcome . . . come on crossword fiends, you should be good at this :)
The list below has Mr Golding's 1888 answers in bold, and in square brackets if applicable are various modern alternative or additional suggestions seen around the web.
Verse 1
1) Sociable tree: Tea tree
2) Dancing tree: Caper
3) Nearest the sea: Beech
4) Most yielding: --- [modern suggestion: Rubber]
5) Busiest: Medlar
6) Where ships may be: Bay
-----------------
Verse 2
7) Languishing: Pine
8) Least selfish: --- [modern suggestion: Yew]
9) Bears a curse: Apple
10) Chronologist's tree: Date
11) Fisherman's tree: Crab
12) Like an Irish nurse: Honeysuckle
-----------------
Verse 3
13) Tell-tale tree: --- [modern suggestion: Peach]
14) Traitor tree: Judas
15) Warmest clad: Fir
16) Layman's restraint: --- [modern suggestion: Elder]
17) Housewife's tree: Broom
18) Makes one sad: --- [modern suggestion: Willow]
-----------------
Verse 4
19) With death befrights you: Nightshade [another modern suggestion: Cypress]
20) Your wants would supply: Bread tree
21) To travel invites you: Orange (O range)
22) Forbids you to die: Olive (O live)
-----------------
Verse 5
23) What tree do the thunders resound to the sky: ---
24) Brightens your house/does your mansion sustain: ---
25) Urged the Germans in vengeance to rise: ---
26) Strike for the victory by tyranny slain: ---
-----------------
Verse 6
27) Will fight: Box
28) Obeys you: --- [modern suggestion: Dogwood]
29) Never stands still: Aspen [alternate modern suggestion: Lilac (lie lack?)]
30) Tree that got up: Rose
31) Lazy: Sloe
32) Neither up nor down hill: Plane
-----------------
Verse 7
33) To be kissed: Mistletoe [alternate modern suggestion: Tulip (two lip) tree]
34) Dandiest tree: --- [modern suggestion: Spruce]
35) Guides the ships to go forth: Elm (helm)
36) Tree of the people: Poplar
37) Unhealthiest tree: Plague [alternate modern suggestion: Sycamore]
38) Whose wood faces the north: Southernwood
-----------------
Verse 8
39) In a battle: ---
40) In a fog: Hazel (Haze-l)
41) Bids the joints pain: Rue [alternate modern suggestion: Fever tree]
42) Terrible tree when schoolmasters flog: Birch
43) Mother and child bears the name: --- [previous book owner suggested: Damson]
-----------------
Verse 9
44) Emulous tree: Ivy (I vie)
45) Industrious tree: Cotton
46) Warms mutton when cold: Ash [alternate modern suggestion: Flame tree]
47) Reddest brown tree: Chestnut
48) Reddest blue tree: --- [modern suggestion: Gum]
49) What each must become ere he's old: Sage
-----------------
Verse 10
50) Treacherous tree: Cane (Cain) [alternate modern suggestion: Judas tree]
51) Contemptible tree: --- [modern suggestion: Fig]
52) To which wines are inclined: --- [modern suggestions: Vine, Cork]
53) Causes each townsman to flee: --- [modern suggestion: Plague tree]
54) Round fair ankles are twined: Sandal
-----------------
Verse 11
55) Tree that's entire: --- [modern suggestion: Holly (wholly?)]
56) Tree that is split: Clove
57) Half given by doctors when ill: Bark
58) We offer to friends when we meet: Palm
59) We may use as a quill: Cedar [alternate modern suggestion: Aspen (as pen)]
-----------------
Verse 12
60) Tree that's immortal: Amaranth
61) Trees that are not: ---
62) Must pass through the fire: Ash
63) In Latin can ne'er be forgot: ---
64) In English we all most admire: --- [modern suggestion: Oak]
-----------------
Verse 13
65) Egyptian plague tree: --- [modern suggestion: Locust tree]
66) Tree that is dear: ---
67) Round itself doth entwine: Hop
68) In billiards must ever be near: Mace
69) By Cockneys is turned into wine: --- [modern suggestion: Vine]
Home |
Wrexham area |
General |
Sheffield area |
Asia |
Military
