AGE OF TREES 



33 



cerning the age of trees in this forest, we 

 have the testimony of Mr. Evelyn, in his 

 Sylva; that he had, in some cases, counted 

 three or four hundred concentric rings, each 

 ring marking a year's growth." 



Three or four hundred years !" said Fre- 

 derick ; then it is not worth one's while to 

 begin planting ; we can never hope to see 

 them of any size worth speaking of ; and as to 

 making money of them, that is quite out of 

 the question." 



If we are to think of, and labour, only for 

 ourselves, Frederick, many things will appear 

 scarcely worth while. But it is well to do 

 something for those who are to succeed us ; 

 as, certainly, we are all much indebted to those 

 who lived before we did, and who acted on 

 other principles than merely such as were sel- 

 fish. Whilst a gentleman of landed property 



D 



