1887-88.] Annual Increase in Girth of Trees. 273 



1887 was 21 feet 9| inches, giving an increase of a little over 

 3 inches a year, the rate for tlie pre\dous sixty-five years 

 having been a little over 3i inches. 



No. 50, in a border of trees and shrubs, but not much 

 incommoded, was transplanted once, and in October 1878 

 the stem was pruned up to 10 feet, many branches being 

 lopped. Its annual increase for sixty-four years down to 

 1878 averaged 0'52, but in the last nine years has fallen to 

 0"37. Its girth-increase does not seem to have fallen in the 

 two first of the severe seasons, and not to any great degree 

 in the third, but was decidedly low in 1887. Its height, 

 June 26, 1879, was 24 feet 1 inch, and is now 27 feet. 

 This represents an annual increase of a little over 4 inches, 

 the rate for the previous sixty-four years having been a 

 little under 4i inches. 



No. 53 also stands among other trees and shrubs, and is 

 somewhat overshadowed. Its trunk has been partially pruned 

 for 4 feet. Its age is unknown. Its rate of increase for 

 the last eight years has been only 0"25. This low rate 

 has probably been caused partly by the three severe seasons. 

 AVe have no measurement for the first of them, but in the 

 second and third the increase was only 015, while in 1882 

 it sprung up to 0*40 ; 1883, and particularly 1887, were also 

 seasons of depression. All the time the tree has had a 

 healthy and vigorous appearance. 



Taking a general view of the species, we find that the 

 annual average girth-increase of the seven trees has been 

 0*34, or removing the only tree to which serious objection 

 can be taken, on account of its appearance and surround- 

 ings, the average of six is 0'38. Eemoving two others, 

 whose girth-increase has apparently received a prolonged, 

 though, judging from their healthy appearance, not prob- 

 ably a permanent depression from the severe frosts of 

 1879-80-81, the average of the remaining four rises to 

 0-44. 



Two of the trees, the largest and smallest, increased in 

 girth at a considerably greater rate in the decennial period 

 than in their previous career, but the reverse was the case 

 with the three others whose total age was known. 



The upward growth of five of the yews was also ascer- 

 tained for the decennial period by measuring with a rod in 



