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



275 



Quercus Hex. 



No species in the Botanic Garden suffered such manifest 

 injury from the three severe seasons as the evergreen oak. 

 The largest specimen, not one of my observed trees, now 

 74'50 inches in girth, lost its whole foliage in 1880, two 

 years' growth of the twigs having apparently perished. It 

 has gradually recovered its clothing, but has never regained 

 its former handsome thriving appearance. 



The measured trees did not suffer so much, but it was 

 noted in June 1879 that the winter leaves turned brown 

 with the long frost, and dropped off before the spring buds 

 appeared. The girth-increase probably fell considerably in 

 this the first year of measurement, but in the next two severe 

 seasons was reduced almost to nothing, and it was not till 

 1886 that any substantial increase was made. In 1880 No. 45 

 was the only tree of its species in the garden which retained 

 its leaves green and vigorous till they dropped, according to the 

 usual rule, with the development of new foliage in summer ; 

 nevertheless, it has not done much better than No. 46 on the 

 whole, the annual average being only 0'28, that of No. 46 

 being 0*23. A slight rally which both made in 1882 was 

 followed by a serious depression in 1883, from which there 

 was no recovery till 1886, when both trees did so well that it 

 seemed as if they were beginning a new career of prosperity. 

 In 1887, however, a fresh and serious fall took place. 



