THE GIRTH-INCREASE OF TREES. 181 
TAXUS BACCATA. 
Z 
Annual : 
oO. ta 1888. | 1889. | 1890. | 1891. | 1892. | 1893. | 1894. | 1895. | 1896. | 1897. ee —o Girth. 
Decade 
& 
& 
& 
8 
& 
& 
86 § 8 & 
8 
to 
8 
& 
8 
53 25 DO! BO 230. 25) 10S 3B 204 20 00-) 05-9 Sb | - 18: S606 
In my Paper of 1888 the history of No. 41 is fully given. 
Traditionally, an age of at least 213 or possibly 260 years is 
assigned to it, but the observations show that its rate has been 
nearly half an inch for the last twenty years, and taking the same 
rate for its whole life, and it is not likely to have been less, the 
age would be reduced to 170 years, with a girth of nearly six and 
a half feet. The rates in the two decades are nearly the same, 
and would have been still nearer but for the sudden drop in 1897 
to ‘20. This seems to have been due to the transplantation of 
trees around, which formerly closely sheltered it, and resulted 
also in a sickly look, which has not yet (spring, 1899) disap- 
peared ; but as in that year it once more grew ‘40, or nearly its 
average, it is to be hoped it will again prosper. 
No. 48, an equally vigorous grower, died in 1894 from having 
its roots pruned in preparation for transplantation. No. 50, 
always rather weakly, was cut down in 1896. The three survi- 
vors, Nos. 42, 49, 53, all fell off, but not much, in the second 
decade. Although looking equally vigorous, and not differing 
much in size, their rates in the second decade varied as much as 
from "18 to “44. 
Nos. 48, 49, 50, were known to be 77 years old in 1896, and 
allowing 7 years for growth to the measuring point, their life- 
rates have been ‘68, ‘45, and ‘57, and the girths attained were 44, 
32, and 36 inches. 
