INTRODUCTION. 13 



gions of the Xorth, it seldom attains a diameter of more 

 than five or six inches, and a height of fifteen or twenty 

 feet, while in the generous soil and genial clime of the 

 South, it frequently grows to the height of thirty feet, or 

 even more, and swells to a diameter of eighteen or twenty 

 inches. We have ourselves seen them of fully this latter 

 size in Arkansas and Texas ; and in August, 1869, some 

 old trees were measured on the Delaware Bay and found 

 to have a girth of nearly six feet. 



The tree is supposed to be short-lived, and, except in 

 a genial soil, may be so regarded. But even in latitude 

 41 North, it has attained its three-score years, vigorous 

 in old age, and still producing respectable crops of good 

 fruit. Such instances, however, are rare. Farther South, 

 it lives much longer ; and on the Peninsula, and in East- 

 ern Virginia, there are still standing many flourishing 

 trees, which were planted more than seventy years ago ; 

 and if they receive the attention they should, it is be- 

 lieved they will live to be a hundred years old. In 

 France, there are several well attested cases of trees being 

 in good condition when over ninety years old. It has 

 been noted in these cases that the trees all become hollow, 

 while the shell retains its thrift and vigor. It is also to 

 be remarked that, in none of these instances does the size 

 ever approach that attained in our own land ; the largest, 

 BO far as we have observed, not exceeding one foot in 

 diameter. Eight of these venerable old trees may still be 

 seen by a terrace wall, at the Chateau, de Villiers, near 

 Ferte-Aleps. They still produce abundantly; and the 

 gardener affirms that, thirty years ago, when he took 

 charge of the grounds, they were as large as now. Their 

 productiveness he attributes to careful pruning. But 

 what gardener ever doubted but that success was at- 

 tributable to his skill ! 



In the transactions of the Horticultural Society of 

 France, published a few years since, an account of an- 



