ON THE AGE OF TREES. 



on healthy stocks impairs the vigor of a sort— but only that any given variety which 

 been propagated in this way time and again, for 100 years, is very likely, in the course 

 of that time, to have been put upon an unhealthy stock, and hence to have lost some of 

 its original vigor. 



Little encouragement as we can give to Mr. ToGXO, in his plan of making vineyards of 

 foreign grapes in this country, we look with considerable interest upon his attempt to 

 introduce here a large collection of foreign grapes. It is by no means imposssible, that 

 some one or two varieties little known in the gardens, but better known in the vineyards 

 of Europe, may yet be found to stand our climate — though we cannot say that such a 

 variety has yet been found. Ed. 



ON THE AGE OF TEEES. 



(FROM THE LONDON GARDENERS' MAGAZINE OF F.OTANY.) 



In speaking of the age of trees, we insensibly use the term age, in the same manner as 

 we do when speaking of animals. "We talk of old trees, old animals, and old houses, as 

 if the same processes had gone on in one as in the other. Yet, Avhen we come to examine 

 the nature of the changes which have taken place during the age of the one and the other, 

 how different they are. Not more does the process of change in the old house differ from 

 the tree and animal, than does the 

 same process in these two. The 

 animal lu\s but one life, and this 





■M 





life is dependent on the harmony 

 of the whole organization ; whilst, 

 if we examine a tree, we shall find 

 it has, (so to speak,) many lives. 

 Each bud is capable of an inde- 

 pendent existence; nay more, 

 many parts of the tissues of plants 

 arecai)able of producing buds, and 

 each cell has its separate and inde- 

 pendent existence. It is here, 

 then, that we see how different 

 must be the circumstances under 

 wluch age Is attained in a tree, 

 from those Avhich produce it in am 

 animal. 



I'lants are called annual, bien- 

 nial, or perennial, as they endure 

 for one, two, or more years. The 

 difference depends on this, that the 

 tissues of some plants are unable 

 to resist the meteorological inllu- 

 ences to which they are exposed, so well as others. The reason of this difference in the 

 tissues is not well made out. It is, however, well known, that a plant in this country 

 )e an annual, on the Continent, a biennial, and, in the Tropics, a shrub, or 

 the case with the castor-oil plant, Ricinus communis. 



Beech Tree — Exogen. 



