14 THE TREE BOOK 



rings go on showing increase in width to the 

 very last — a mute record that the tree fell in 

 the very prime of life. On stumps with a 

 greater record of rings, we find the circles get- 

 ting nearer together on the outward side, show- 

 ing that trees, like people, lose their vigor as 

 they grow old. Trees usually cease to grow 

 rapidly in height after their fiftieth year. 



It is not always necessary to cut down a tree 

 in order to tell its age. Each twig and branch 

 bears a record of years, written in the scars of 

 bud scales and leaves. A branch finishes its 

 year by forming buds. In the spring it starts to 

 grow by casting off the scales that protected the 

 buds from the cold. The scales leave a little 

 group of scars to mark their place. So the 

 length between each two groups of scale scars 

 represents a year of growth. Beginning with 

 any little tree you can easily count its age from 

 tip to base. The oldest branches are a year 

 younger than the main stem. Every branch, 

 large or small, must be a year younger than the 

 stem that bears it. The youngest wood bears 

 buds in winter: in summer all the leaves are 

 borne directly upon shoots that grew from the 

 winter buds. 



With these clews in mind, test your knowl- 

 edge. Here is a certain stem you think is five 



