99 FOREST CULTURE AND 
The longevity of certain kinds of trees is marvel- 
ous. British Oaks are estimated to attain an age of 
two thousand years. The Walnut- tree, the Sweet 
Chestnut, and Black Mulberry-tree, live through many 
centuries, if cared for. Wellingtonias are found to be 
one thousand one hundred years old, Even the South 
Kuropean Elm, which, since the time of the Romans, 
has also made Britain its home, is known to stand six 
hundred years. Dr. Hooker regards the oldest Ce- 
dars yet existing, at Mount Lebanon, as two thousand 
five hundred years old. Historic records are extant 
of Orange-trees having attained an-age of seven hun- 
dred years, yet aged trees continue in full bearing, 
under favorable circumstances ; a single tree is said 
to have yielded, in a harvest, twenty thousand oran- 
ges. Individual Olive-trees are also supposed to 
have existed ever since the Christian era. The Eu- 
ropean Cypress, the British Yew, the Ginkgo, and the 
Kauri afford other remarkable instances of longevity. 
The Date-Palm gratefully bears its rich crop of fruit 
for two hundred years. The Dragon-tree of Orotava 
is another familiar example of extraordinary longevi- 
ty. Here, in Victoria, the native Beech, and several 
Kucalypts are veritable patriarchs of the forests, and of 
a far more venerable age than is generally supposed. 
So much for the lasting of some of our work, to en- 
courage planting operations. 
If Cook, who stepped with the pride of an explorer 
on these shores precisely a century ago, could view 
once more the scene of his discoveries, he would be 
charmed by the sight of noble cities, and the happy 
aspect of rural industry; but he would turn his eyes 
in dismay from the desolation and aridity which a 
