i28 FOREST CtjLTUEE AND 



The longevity of certain kinds of trees is marvel- 

 ous. British Oaks are estimated to attain an age of 

 two thousand years. The Walnut - tree, the Sweet 

 Chestnut, and Black Mulberry-tree, live through many 

 centuries, if cared for. Wellingtonias are found to be 

 one thousand one hundred years old. Even the South 

 European Elm, which, since the time of the Romans, 

 has also made Britain its' home, is known to stand six 

 hundred years. Dr. Hooker regards the oldest Ce- 

 dars yet existing, at Mount Lebanon, as two thousand 

 five hundred years old. Historic records are extant 

 of Orange-trees having attained an age of seven hun- 

 dred years, yet aged trees continue in fuU bearing, 

 under favorable circumstances ; a single tree is said 

 to have yielded, in a harvest, twenty thousand oran- 

 ges. Individual Olive - trees are also supposed to 

 have existed ever since the Christian era. The Eu- 

 ropean Cypress, the British Yew, the Ginkgo, and the 

 Kauri afford other remarkable instances of longevity. 



The Date-Palm gratefully bears its rich crop of fruit 

 for two hundred years. The Dragon-tree of Orotava 

 is another familiar example of extraordinary longevi- 

 ty. Here, in Victoria, the native Beech, and several 

 Eucalypts are veritable patriarchs of the forests, and of 

 a far more venerable age than is generally supposed. 



So much for the lasting of some of our work, to en- 

 courage planting operations. 



If Cook, who stepped with the pride of an explorer 

 on these shores precisely a century ago, could view 

 once more the scene of his discoveries, he would be 

 charmed by the sight of noble cities, and the happy 

 aspect of rural industry ; but he would turn his eyes 

 in dismay from the desolation and aridity which a 



