Rate of Growth in Old Trees 65 



years, though there is every reason to believe that 

 this is considerably below the average rate of 

 growth. 



It is worthy of note that the cypress planted at 

 Chartreux by Michel Angelo was 13 feet in girth 

 in 1817, giving an average rate of girth-increase 

 of over 4 feet in the first three centuries. The rate 

 of increase in diameter for the whole period is i foot 

 in 697 years, a growth nearly as rapid as that of 

 the yew. 



E 



