CHAPTER V. 



THE AGE OF TREES AND WOODS. 



IT is of importance to know, not only the actual dimensions 

 of the trees and their volume, but also the time which has 

 heen necessary to produce them. To solve this question the 

 age of single trees as well as that of whole woods must be 

 ascertained. 



1. Determination of the Age of Single Trees. 

 a. Standing Trees. 



All trees increase annually in diameter and also by the 

 elongation of the leading shoots and branches, at any rate up to 

 a certain age. The diameter increment produces every year 

 an additional concentric ring, and the new leading shoot leaves 

 marks, which are more or less distinguishable, according to 

 species and age. These facts yield data by which the age can 

 be determined in the majority of cases, but not in all, when 

 no records are available which give the age. Accordingly, 

 the following methods of determining the age may be dis- 

 tinguished : 



i. DETERMINATION FROM EXISTING RECORDS. 



Reliable records yield the best results, if they refer to in- 

 dividual trees. In the case of trees which form part of the 

 wood they are not always accurate, as many woods are not 

 altogether even-aged. 



ii. DETERMINATION BY ESTIMATE. 



As a general rule, it may be assumed that the larger the 

 tree the older it is. Taking, therefore, into consideration the 



