president's address. 633 



In connection with this sulDJect I have endeavoured to obtain 

 some data as to the rate of growth of trees, and the period at 

 which maturity is reached in AustraHa as compared with Europe. 

 In Europe numerous observations have been made which are 

 given in the above-mentioned Consular Reports. It is stated that 

 trees are allowed to grow as follows : — 



Red beech 



Oak 



Elm, ash and maple ... 



Birches and alders 



Other species . . 



White fir 



Pine and fir 



Larch ... 



Growth in height and girth is most rapid up to 40 or 50 years, 

 after which the rate declines. The increase in bulk, however, 

 proceeds at an increasing rate, as might be expected, seeing that 

 the roots are constantly spreading. 



It is much to be wished that systematic observations on the 

 growth of trees, native and exotic, should be made in Australia; 

 but it Avould appear from the information obtainable that it is, 

 under fairly favourable circumstances, at least equal to that in 

 Europe. 



The late Rev. J. E. Tenison- Woods* thought "that the tallest 

 trees of the forest, the giant timber of Tasmania, range from 

 fifty to seventy-five years old." 



The late Rev. Dr. Woollsf says " whatever may be the ages of 

 the Tasmanian Eucalypts, I believe that the harder woods in the 

 County of Cumberland are slow in growth, and that centuries 

 elapse before they reach their full pro^^ortions." 



* " Tasmaniaa Forests." Journ. and Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W. 1878. 

 xii. p. 22. 



+ Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1880. v. pp. 508-509. See also the same 

 author's " Contribution to the Flora of Australia" (1867), pp. 220-221; and 

 ■"Lectures on the Vegetable Kingdom" (1879), p. 93. 



