248 SYLVAN WINTER. 



mate. Taking the trees in the order of their 

 longevity, the list will be headed by the Yew 

 with 3200 years. Then comes the Cedar with 

 3000, an estimate which is partly based upon the 

 assumption that the existing Cedars of Lebanon 

 were contemporaries of Solomon. The approxi- 

 mate ages of the others about which information 

 has been obtained are : Wellingtonia, 2000 ; Oak, 

 1650; Plane, 1300; Spruce, 1200; Lime, 1100; 

 Chestnut, 1000 ; Sycamore, 1000 ; Walnut, 900 ; 

 Cypress, 800 ; Beech, 800 ; Olive, 800 ; Orange, 

 630 ; Elm, 600 ; Larch, 576 ; Maple, 516 ; Ivy, 

 335 ; Ash, 300, Barberry, 300 ; Scotch Fir, 250 ; 

 White Poplar, 160 ; Thorn, 150 ; Vine, 100 ; and 

 Mountain Ash, 100. It must be distinctly under- 

 stood that whilst these ages have been supplied 

 upon the best authority obtainable, it is not to be 

 assumed that the periods indicated may not be 

 inconsistent with some actually ascertained facts. 

 The reason for this is that circumstances of 

 growth occasion the most important differences 

 in the duration of tree-life. Trees growing under 

 apparently the most favourable conditions often, 

 for unexplained and frequently incomprehensible 



