PT. IT. 



PRUNING AND THINNING. 



223 



the growth in girthing of forest-trees will vary in the 

 same tree, according to accidental circumstances. In 

 Plate I. some of the early growths, when the plant 

 had perfect room, exceed one-thn^d of an inch in 

 width. Some of the later growths, when its head had 

 been crowded to death by neighbours, scarcely exceed 

 one-tenth of an inch. But if one- fourth of an inch is 

 allowed for the annual ring of growing trees — that is, 

 of sound trunks with full heads — in 5,000 years they 

 would attain a diameter of more than 200 feet, and a 

 girthing of more than 600 feet. If this growth is 

 halved, and one-eighth of an inch width is allowed for 

 the annual ring, a diameter of more than 100 feet, and 

 a girthing of more than 300 feet, would result in 

 5,000 years. We may ask, did the baobab grow in 

 height for 5,000 years ? If so, the Adansonia digitata 

 is too modest a name. (I speak as regards the tree, 

 not the man.) It should be christened the Adam-o- 

 father-ia Skyscrapo-moonrakiana ; though De CandoUe, 

 or any man well up in botany, would give the first 

 semi-diameter of this name from the Latin, and the 

 last Grceco fonte. 



I think it possible that oaks, which habitually 

 make two shoots in the year, may make two {annual ?) 

 rings in the year : and this may be possible with many 

 trees in the tropics. That trees of gigantic stature are 

 not more frequently found in unappropriated forests is 

 generally to be attributed to their want of room ; that 

 is, to their growing so close as to injure or kill one 



