196 "a few notches on old trees." 



cisco a spacious room, has been formed from the bark of 

 one of these trees (the sequoias, not the Grraces). The 

 bark was stripped off to the height of 21 ft. and then placed 

 together. The room is carpeted, contains a piano, and will 

 seat 40 people. On one occasion 140 children were crowded 

 into it. 



In the Times of September 19th, 1891, there was a state- 

 ment that a red- wood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) was going 

 to be made into two railway carriages, and sent to the 

 Chicago Exhibition. One carriage was to contain a dining- 

 room, a buffet, a bath-room, a barber's shop, and a kitchen ; 

 and the other was to be a sleeping car and an observation- 

 room. 



Gigantic as these sequoia trees unquestionably are, it seems 

 highly probable that some of the eucalypti or kirri trees of 

 Western Australia are even more mammoth-like. Some of 

 them attain a height of probably not less than 500 feet. 

 One of them — hollowed — allowed three men on horseback 

 and a pack-horse to ride into it, and turn round, and come 

 out again ! Let me give you a comparison of what this 

 height means : — ■ 

 To the top of the cross on St. Paul's in London is 404 feet. 

 „ „ Strasburg spire is ... 440 ,, 



,, ,, Pyramid of Cheops is ... 480 ,, 



Some of these trees would top them all ! 



A few remarks about the ages of trees and the methods of 

 computation, and I have done my pleasurable task, and dis- 

 tressed, I fear, your patience. 



During the remarks I have made, I am quite sure I have 

 served rather to muddle than clear up the question of what 

 tree or trees are the oldest in the world, so many authori- 

 ties have claimed the honour for their favourites. One 

 thing is very clear; viz., that all Anno Domini trees are 



