president's address. 
633 
In connection with this subject I have endeavoured to obtain 
some data as to the rate of growth of trees, and the period at 
which maturity is reached in Australia as compared with Europe, 
In Europe numerous observations have been made which are 
given in the above-mentioned Consular Reports. It is stated that 
trees are allowed to grow as follows : — 
Red beech ... ... ... ... 120 years 
Oak 160 
Elm, ash and maple ... ... ... 80 
Birches and alders ... ... ... 60 
Other species . . ... ... ... 40 
White fir 100 
Pine and fir ... ... ... ... 80 
Larch ... ... ... ... ... 60 
Growth in height and girth is most rapid up to 40 or 50 years, 
after which the rate declines. The increase in bulk, however, 
proceeds at an increasing rate, as might be expected, seeing that 
the roots are constantly spreading. 
It is much to be wished that systematic observations on the 
growth of trees, native and exotic, should be made in Australia; 
but it would appear from the information obtainable that it is, 
under fairly favourable circumstances, at least equal to that in 
Europe. 
The late Rev. J. E. Tenison- Woods* thought " that the tallest 
trees of the forest, the giant timber of Tasmania, range from 
fifty to seventy-five years old." 
The late Rev. Dr. Woollsf says " whatever may be the ages of 
the Tasmanian Eucalypts, I believe that the harder woods in the 
County of Cumberland are slow in growth, and that centuries 
elapse before they reach their full proportions." 
* "Tasmanian Forests." Journ. and Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W. 1878. 
xii. p. 22. 
f Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1880. v. pp. 508-509. See also the same 
author's "Contribution to the Flora of Australia" (1867), pp. 220-221; and 
"Lectures on the Vegetable Kingdom " (1879), p. 93. 
