RATE OF GROWTH OF SOME AUSTRALIAN TREES. 169 



The young tree that I selected in January 1885, was one of a 

 cluster of four, close to the jetty on which the lake gauge is placed, 

 and it was found to measure twenty-three inches round, three feet 

 from the ground; it was measured again on the 10th November 

 1891, and found to be at three feet from the ground fifty-two and a 

 quarter inches round, almost exactly seventeen inches in diameter, 

 that is an increase from seven to seventeen inches in diameter in 

 six years and eight months, a rate of increase which if maintained 

 for five .years more would make it a large tree upwards of two 

 feet in diameter and only twenty years old. 



In 1875-6 the small park surrounding Sydney Observatory was 

 planted with clumps of trees and ornamental shrubs, and amongst 

 the trees were thirty-seven Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla) , 

 on the 30th November 1891, I measured with a steel tape the 

 circumference of nine of the largest of these trees, and found the 

 mean circumference three feet from the ground to be four feet 

 ten inches, the largest one measuring five feet six and a half inches. 



There were forty-six trees of Pinus insignis planted at the same 

 time ; the situation does not seem to suit them and they are all 

 stunted. I measured on November 30th 1891, four of the largest 

 and found the mean circumference three feet from the ground, 

 two feet seven and a half inches ; the largest measured two feet 

 eleven and a half inches. 



Two Eucalyptus trees were planted at the same time on the 

 south side of the Reserve, in trenched and manured ground. The 

 larger of these trees, that at the south-west corner of the ground, 

 measures three feet ten inches round three feet above the ground. 

 It is of the Eucalyptus globulus variety. The other one near the 

 cottage measures three feet five and a half inches ; they were 

 were small pot plants when put in and would now be sixteen 

 years old. They do not seem to be growing vigorously, perhaps 

 this is not to be wondered at as the roots cannot penetrate the 

 solid sandstone which is close to the surface where they grow. 



We have same other data which although they do not shew 

 such a rapid growth in the trees as that just referred to yet 



