FORESTRY BUREAU. 



149 



on summing np his investigations, "The life of some trees may be be- 

 lieved to be prodigious." We are forced to the same conclusion. There 

 are no more unerring indications as to the ages of trees than of men 

 and animals; some men become gray, wrinkled, and tottering almost in 

 their teens ; some may be small or large; others live to three-score and 

 ten and are as fresh and vigorous as boys. The same with animals — 

 all dex>ends on the constitution, conditions, and surroundings. 



Concentric or annual rings were once considered legal evidence as to 

 the age of trees; so with measurements; but, except where climate, soil, 

 temperature, humidity, &c, are regular and well balanced, both of these 

 fail and are but little more than guess-work. The only regions where 

 either are reliable indications are the secluded and regular- tempered 

 valleys and canons of the Southern Pacific coast. 



The following table shows the growth of twenty different varieties in 

 Southeast Nebraska, made during a period of twenty-five years, from 

 actual measurement: 



