of New York 25 



It is not always easy to tell the age of a tree. Sometimes 

 accurate written records are available. In other cases it may 

 be possible to get a reliable verbal statement from one who 

 knows exactly when a specific tree or a group of them was 

 planted. In the absence of accurate records or reliable state- 

 ments, the best way to tell the age of a tree is to count the 

 annual rings on the cross section of the stem near the ground, 

 and add to this count the number of years it took the tree to 

 grow to the height at which the count was made. In case of 

 a felled tree, the stump section is a good place to make the 

 count. The number of rings on the top section, plus the 

 number of years it took the tree to grow to the height of 

 the stump, gives the total age of the tree, for each ring usu- 

 ally represents a year's growth. To determine the age of 

 standing trees an instrument is in use known as an increment 

 borer. By means of this borer a small core about % of an 

 inch in diameter is taken from the stem, and rings thereon 

 are counted. The results furnish a good basis for estimating 

 the age of trees. It has proved very valuable to foresters in 

 studying the growth of standing forest trees. 



There is another method that is helpful in telling the age 

 of such trees as White Pine, which develop their lateral 

 branches in distinct whorls or stories one above another. 

 The distance between these whorls of branches normally 

 represents a year's growth. If the branches have fallen off 

 or been removed, one can often see the circle of branch scars 

 on the stems. By counting the number of sections between 

 these separate stories of branches one can estimate very closely 

 the age of the trees in question. The age of young hard- 

 wood trees can also be told by counting the rings of terminal 

 bud-scale scars upon the twigs and the slender stems. The 

 portion of the twigs from the tip to the first ring of bud- 

 scale scars is one year's growth. The distance between the 

 first and second rings is another year, and so on as far down 

 the stem as these scars remain visible. 



Telling the age of trees is fascinating pastime. After you 

 have been successful in telling the age of a few trees you 

 will find yourself questioning the age of others. You will 

 not have gone far in your study of the age of trees until you 

 will be convinced that the age of young trees like that of 

 children is far more easy to tell than that of grown-up trees. 



