192 Scientific Intelligence. — Botany. 



ther increase. When the period has arrived after which the 

 increase of the tree would be less and less from year to year, 

 then the tree should be felled, for no advantage accrues from 

 its remaining longer in the ground. The indications of the 

 mature state of a tree are by no means so evident as those of 

 decay, but still certain signs of these states, as well as of the 

 vigorous condition of the tree, may also be observed. 



I. Signs announcing the Vigour of a Tree.—^hQ branches, 

 especially towards the top, are vigorous ; the annual shoots 

 strong and long ; the leaves green, vigorous, and thick, princi- 

 pally at the summit, and falling late in autumn ; the bark is 

 clear, fine, united, and nearly of the same colour from the foot 

 to the large branches. If at the bottom of the veins or divi- 

 sions of the thick bark there appear smaller divisions which 

 follow from below upwards, in the direction of the fibres, and 

 live bark be observed at the bottom of these divisions, it is an 

 indication that the tree is very vigorous, and rapidly increasing 

 in size. If some of the lower branches, stifled by others, are 

 yellow, languishing, and even dead, this is an accidental effect, 

 and is no proof of the languor of the tree. Finally, It is a sign 

 of vigour when branches are seen at the summit of the tree rising 

 above, and being much longer than the others ; but it is to be 

 observed, that all trees with round heads do not throw out 

 branches with equal force. 



II. Signs which indicate that the Tree is mature. — General- 

 ly the head of the tree is rounded ; the shoots diminish in length 

 each year, and the furthest shoots add to the length of the 

 branches only by the length of the bud ; the leaves are put 

 forth only in spring, and become yellow in autumn before 

 those of vigorous trees, and at this time the lower leaves are 

 greener than the upper. The branches incline towards the ho- 

 rizon, and form angles sometimes of sixty or seventy degrees. 

 These apparent signs, and the thinness of the layer deposited 

 by the sap, indicate that the tree makes but small additions to 

 itself, and now it should be cut down. The nature of the 

 earth should be examined, as well as the kind of tree, to enable 

 a judgment whether the tree should be left to increase still fur- 

 ther, or whether it will be more proper to fell it. An exact 

 age cannot be assigned for each species ; but it has l?een ob- 



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