326 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



In these a hard, inflexible shell forms around the inner portions, the 

 tree increases little in diameter, and no woody layers are found. To 

 this class belong the Palms, of which Fig. 3 is an illustration. The 

 age of this class of trees is estimated by comparing specimens with 

 others whose age is known, or from an ascertained rate of growth. 

 The oldest palms may not exceed five centuries, and their average 

 period is probably less than 200 years. The height of the tallest of 

 the species is said to be 192 feet. Trees growing in dense forests are 

 comparatively short-lived, and attain less bulk than those in open 

 places, where side-branches develop in the unobstructed rays of the 

 sun. In similar conditions the age and dimensions attained by trees 

 of each species are tolerably constant. Thus the average period of 

 oaks and pines may be 300 or 400 years ; but the exceptions are so 

 numerous and wonderful, that we shall present in this paper a few of 

 the most interesting and best-authenticated instances. 



Of the white-pines, once the glory of the New England forests, we 

 are not aware that any have been found more than 430 years old. Nor 

 have we any oaks of extraordinary age. The Charter-oak at Hart- 

 ford may have been a small tree at the first settlement of New Eng- 

 land. The Wadsworth oak, at Geneseo, New York, is said to be five 

 centuries old, and 2 V feet in circumference at the base. The massive, 

 slow-growing live-oaks, of Florida, are worthy of notice, on account 

 of the enormous length of their branches. Bartram says : " I have 

 stepped 50 paces in a straight line from the trunk of one of these 

 trees to the extremity of the limbs." 



The oaks of Europe are among the grandest of trees. The Cow- 

 thorpe oak is 78 feet in circuit at the ground, and is at least 1,800 

 years old. Another, in Dorsetshire, is of equal age. In Westphalia 

 is a hollow oak, which was used as a place of refuge in the troubled 

 times of mediaeval history. 



The great oak at Saintes, in Southern France, is 90 feet in girth, 

 and has been ascertained to be 2,000 years old. This monument, still 

 or recently flourishing, commemorates a period which antedates the 

 first campaign of Julius Caesar ! 



The oriental plane-tree is noted in Eastern countries for its size 

 and longevity. Fig. 4 represents one near Constantinople, which is 

 100 feet high, and 150 feet in circuit. It has been suggested that 

 this is really a group of trees originally planted near together for 

 their shade. The figure, however, hardly confirms that opinion, and 

 many trees of this species are mentioned by travellers not greatly in- 

 ferior to this one in dimensions. 



Most of the old plane-trees are hollow, their tops being sustained 

 by wood of recent growth. In this respect an exogenous tree resem- 

 bles a coral-reef, where the vitality and growth are at the surface 

 only. 



Of chestnuts, we have the famous one at Tort worth, in Glou- 



