190 THE BEAUTIES OE NATURE chap. 



sion that it must have been already a large 

 tree when Rome was founded, and though the 

 facts do not warrant this conclusion, the tree 

 did, no doubt, go back to Pagan times. The 

 great Yew of Fountains Abbey is said to have 

 sheltered the monks when the abbey was re- 

 built in 1133, and is estimated at an age of 

 1300 years ; that at Brabourne in Kent at 

 3000. De CandoUe gives the following as the 

 ages attainable : — 



The Ivy 450 years 



Larch ..... 570 



Plane 750 



Cedar of Lebanon . . . 800 



Lime 1100 



Oak" 1500 



Taxodium distichnm . . . 4000 to 6000 



Baobab 6000 years 



Nowhere is woodland scenery more beau- 

 tiful than where it passes gradually into the 

 open country. The separate trees, having 

 more room both for their roots and branches, 

 are finer, and can be better seen, while, when 

 they are close together, " one cannot see the 

 wood for the trees." The vistas which open 

 out are full of mystery and of promise, 



