Hollow Trees — The Age of Trees 



becoming hard. These are called white 

 woods, among which are the poplar and 

 the willow. The white woods are poor 

 in quality, having no firmness and wearing 

 out quickly. 



When they have reached a great age 

 some trees, especially those the wood of 

 which does not become hard, often have a 

 hollow trunk. Sooner or later the interior 

 layers, consumed by decay, are mingled with 

 the earth, and the trunk ends by becoming 

 hollow, though this does not prevent it from 

 bearing a vigorous crown of branches. There 

 is nothing stranger, at first sight, than old 

 willows, gnawed by the larvrt of insects, 

 excavated by decay, disembowelled by years, 

 and, in spite of so much destruction, covered 

 by a vigorous growth. Within they are 

 decaying corpses ; outside they enjoy the 

 fullness of life. This singularity is explained, 

 if we reflect that the central la3^ers are of no 

 use to the fortune of the tree. As old relics 

 of departed generations, they can be wasted 

 by decay ; the rest of the tree will not suffer 

 as long as the exterior is preserved, for it is 

 there only that the life abides. Being 

 destroyed in its central portion by the attacks 

 of time, and rejuvenated every year by new 



37 



