AGE FOR FELLING. 90 



during wood, qualities which contribute greatly to the longevity of 

 trees. Some of the oldest trees known have been yews. Here are 

 a few that have been particularly described : 



Where they ^ow. Probable tige. Circumference. Observeri. 



County of York 1220 28.25 Pennant 



Ditto 1220 13.85 Ditto. 



County of Surrey 1287 30.12 Evelyn. 



Fotheringal (Scotland) 2580 62-34 Pennant, 



CountyofKent 2800 62.60 Evelyn. 



According to Duhamel it is extremely difficult to fix upon any age 

 as the best in a general way for felling trees, with a view to ob- 

 taining the largest quantity of sound available timber. When the 

 tree is too young, the timber has not all the excellence which it 

 would have gained with greater age ; when too old, the pores are 

 obstructed, and it has begun to decay in the parts of oldest forma- 

 tion, so that it is not uncommon to find wood in the centre of the 

 trunk which is lighter than that of the circumference. In trees 

 which have already fallen into a certain state of decay, the worst 

 timber in them is decidedly that which is taken from the centre at 

 the base of the trunk ; and, indeed, the wood of the centre generally 

 is then of inferior quality to that of more recent formation. Very 

 aged timber always perishes first in those parts which have formed 

 the most internal layers of the tree. It is, therefore, an obvious and 

 grave error to suffer any tree to stand that has given the slightest 

 indications of decay, inasmuch as that which is ordinarily the most 

 valuable limber is likely to be altogether lost. Neither the age nor 

 the dimensions are always the indications of the proper period for 

 felling trees ; exposure, soil, situation, have immense influence upon 

 their growth, vigor, and general qualities. Trees ought to be cut 

 just when they are on the turn ; the proper moment is that which 

 precedes immediately the alteration of the heart; and although the 

 destructive eflfects of age are principally felt in the interior, this in- 

 testine disorder is nevertheless proclaimed externally ; the whole 

 tree suffers when it has taken place.* 



Duhamel has given the following characters, as indicating in- 

 cipient decay, or decline of vigor in trees :t 



1. A tree, the top of which forms one uniform rounded mass, is 

 not strong ; a vigorous tree always throws out certain branches 

 which surpass the others in luxuriance of growth, 



2. When a tree comes into leaf prematurely in the spring, and 

 particularly when the leaves turn, and fall prematurely in the autumn, 

 it is a certain sign of weakness. 



3. When several of the top or leading branches of a tree die, 

 even at their mere extremities, the wood in the centre is beginning 

 to undergo alteration. 



4. When the bark quits the trunk, or becomes cracked here and 

 there, we may be satisfied that the tree is far gone internally. 



5. Mosses, lichens, and funguses growing upon the bark, and red 



* Duhamel, Exploit, des bois, t. i. p. 126. t Idem, 1. 1, p. 133^ 



