1887-88.] Annual Increase in Girth of Trees. 



269 



spring 1878 it was 55 feet high, and it is now 58 feet 10 

 inches, giving an average annual growth upwards of 4'7 

 inches for ten years. The foHage is rather thin. 



^Finics austriaca. — First measured in 1879, but evidently 

 the girth-increase did not suffer material if any reduction in 

 the three bad seasons, although in 1880 two years' growth 

 of the top shoot died. Notwithstanding this loss, the tree 

 has grown very steadily, the annual range being only be- 

 tween 1*80 and 1'40, and its average, 1'60, being higher than 

 that of any other evergreen. 



Abies Loiciana. — The history of these two trees is better 

 known than usual. They stood side by side in 1887, and 

 were of nearly the same girth, No. 31 being 15*0, and No. 

 32 1610 inches. No. 31 was labelled " planted in 1868." 

 Both seemed perfectly healthy, and were crowded with branches 

 to the ground, nevertheless No. 32 had probably begun to 

 suffer from debility, as its growth in 1878 was only 0*60, less 

 than half that of its comrade. In June and July of the 

 following year it assumed a distinctly unhealthy aspect, the 

 upper foliage being thin, the top shoot not a third of the 



