April , 1859 . 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
113 
ence in vigor of growth. Yet an approximation 
may thus be obtained. The “ Washington Elm ” 
at Cambridge is supposed to be upwards of 140 
years old, because it is known that the celebrated 
Whitefield preached under its shade in the year 
1744, more than a century ago. The Aspinwall 
Elm, at Brookline, is known from historical data, 
to be about 200 years old. The great elm on 
Boston Common, is believed to be of about the 
same age. Now of these trees, the first measures 
14 feet in girth, at four feet from the ground, the 
point where the girth is not affected by the ex¬ 
pansion of the roots below or of the branches 
above. The second measures seventeen feet at 
five feet from the ground ; and the third, sixteen 
and-a-half, at the same hight. With such data, 
one can go about the country, (as the “Autocrat 
of the Breakfast Table ” has done.) and with tape- 
line determine the age of trees pretty accurately. 
Another method is by counting the annual con¬ 
centric layers of a tree. (Of course, the palms and 
their allies are excepted here.) But this can not 
well he done without first cutting down the tree ; 
and even then, the center of many old trees is 
found rotten or hollow, so that a little guessing 
has to be resorted to. When the tree is sound, 
and the rings can he accurately deciphered, this 
mode is perfectly reliable. 
But the age of old trees is perhaps most com¬ 
monly arrived at, wholly or in part, through his¬ 
torical evidence or tradition. Some of the most 
remarkable cases of longevity which have met 
the writer's notice, are the following : An oak 
lately cut down, in Poland, was found to have 700 
distinct rings, and the hollow center of the tree 
was estimated to represent 200 years more. 
A Sycamore-Maple now standing near the vil¬ 
lage of Trous, among the Alps, is estimated at 
550 years old. It is known that the famous 
“ Grey League ” was ratified beneath its spread¬ 
ing branches in March, 1424. It must have been 
a century old then. There is a remarkable Lin¬ 
den in Neustadt, Wurtemberg, which was so noted 
in the 13th century as to be called, even then, 
“the Great Linden.” An old poem, dated 1408, 
mentions that “ before the gate of the city of 
Neustadt, rises a Linden, whose branches are sus¬ 
tained by 67 columns.” These columns were 
pillars of stone set up to support the immense 
branches, one of which extended horizontally 
more than 100 feet! At the last accounts, these 
tolumns had increased in number to 106. Its age 
is computed by scientific men, at about 820 years. 
The celebrated “ Tortworth chestnut,” is con¬ 
sidered the largest and oldest tree in England. 
In the reign of Stephen, which began 1135, it was 
then remarkable for its size. It is now 55 feet 
in girth, at five feet from the ground, and is pro¬ 
bably a thousand years old. One of the oldest 
Oaks in England, is “ the Parliament Oak,” in 
Clifstone Park, so called from a Parliament held 
under it by Edward the 1st in 1290. 
We lately read of an immense oak near Cozes, 
in France, with a circumference at the ground, of 
90 feet. A room had been cut out of the dead 
wood of the interior 10 feet in diameter and 9 feet 
high. A round table has been constructed in the 
middle about which twelve guests can easily sit. 
It is believed to be upwards of 1500 years old. 
'1 he Charter Oak, at Hartford, was probably a 
mere sapling when this country was first discov¬ 
ered. The famous “ Wadsworth Oak,” near 
Geneseo, N. Y., has been estimated at about 500 
years old. 
The Olive-tree attains a great age. One lately 
cut down near Nice, in Italy, showed nearly a 
thousand rings. Of the few now standing on the 
Mt. of Olives, tradition may not greatly exagger¬ 
ate in making them 1800 years old. The cedars 
on Mt. Lebanon, which the monks of the neigh¬ 
borhood declare are as old as the time of Solomon, 
are undoubtedly a thousand years of age. 
There is a venerable Cypress-tree in Somna, 
Lombardy, which the inhabitants declare was 
planted in the year of our Saviour’s birth. Na¬ 
poleon changed the line of his great road over the 
Simplon, in order to avoid injuring it. Mr. Lou¬ 
don cites an ancient chronicle to prove that this 
tree was in existence in the time of Julias Caesar ! 
The Yew is the longest lived tree of northern 
Europe. Several specimens at Fountain’s Abbey, 
in Yorkshire, England, are believed to be 1215 
years old. The famous “ Darley Yew,” in Derby¬ 
shire, is 1350 years old. 
The North American Cypress attains great age 
and size in Texas and Mexico. A writer speaks 
of some near the ruins of Palenque, “ which 
claim a higher antiquity than the broken walls 
they overshadow.” One at Montezuma is held to 
be about 2000 years old. 
There is a renowned Dragon-tree on the island 
ofTeneriffe, which Humboldt visited, admired, 
measured and painted apictuieof, and which has 
been an object of reverence by the natives for 
many centuries. At the discovery of Teneriffe, 
in 1402, it was nearly as large as now. Botanists 
almost fear to say how old it may be ; and only 
declare “its age is such as absolutely confounds 
the imagination.” 
A curious rose-bush is shown in the crypt of the 
cathedral of Hildesheim, in Germany, which au¬ 
thentic documents declare was planted by the 
founder of the church, 800 years ago ; and it still 
flourishes and blooms ! 
And finally, it is soberly declared that there is a 
Baobab-tree, on the banks of the Senegal river, 
which is believed to be upwards of 5000 years old ! 
•--» -- ■ » - 
How to Plant Trees in Straight Rows. 
Good apples, pears, or plums, will undoubtedly 
grow upon properly managed trees, whether they 
be set out in squares, triangles, or scattering ; but 
the orchard certainly will look better when regu¬ 
larity and uniformity are preserved, the trees all 
upright, and the rows straight. Accordingly, in 
setting out young orchards, much care is or should 
be taken to secure this end, by laying off the rows 
with a line, setting stakes where it is intended to 
place the trees, and employing a man or boy to 
hold the tree erect while planting. It is, how¬ 
ever, quite troublesome, after the hole is dug, to 
find the exact spot where the stake was set, as it 
requires much time and many steps to “ take 
a sight ” with the ranges, and also makes it ne¬ 
cessary to have an additional hand. This diffi¬ 
culty is obviated by a simple contrivance describ¬ 
ed to us by W. T. Wynkoop, Jackson Co., Iowa. 
~o O 
It is merely a strip of board, about eight 
feet long, with an opening from the centre 
to one side large enough to admit any tree for 
planting, and having also a hole, say of an inch in 
diameter, near each end. It is used thus : The 
ground having been staked out in the usual man¬ 
ner, the board is placed with the center opening 
over a stake. Now insert two small pins in the 
ground, through the openings in the end, and lift 
the board, leaving the pins in the earth. 
The hole may now be dug, and when complet¬ 
ed, the board replaced over the end pins. The 
opening in the centre shows the exact place the 
stake occupied, and the trunk of the tree being 
introduced through the side opening, will be held 
where you want it, while the hole is being filled, 
thus greatly facilitating the work. 
If the trees to be planted are not very nearly of 
the same size, it will be well to drivo a nail in 
the board near the centre opening, and attach a 
strap to it, which can be passed around the tree 
and fastened upon the nail, by holes arranged at 
short distances along the strap. This will hold 
the tree upright while filling in the earth—with¬ 
out the help of an extra man or boy. The board 
can be prepared in a few minutes, and will be 
found very convenient, even when two or more 
persons are together. 
Raising Evergreens from Seed. 
In reply to numerous inquiries on this subject 
we say : As a general rule, the seeds of ever¬ 
greens should be gathered in the Fall and kept 
dry through the Winter. On the opening of 
Spring, if they have not already fallen out of the 
cones, lay them before a moderate fire, when they 
will soon “shell out.” Prepare a bed for sowing 
them, on the north side of a fence, or where it 
can be shaded during the middle of the day. The 
soil should be composed of one third sand, one 
third good loam, and one third leaf-mold from the 
woods, well mixed together. Sow the seeds in 
drills from half an inch to one inch deep, and cov¬ 
er up. Then sprinkle a little old tan bark, or 
leaf-mold over the bed to keep the whole moist. 
In dry weather, the bed should be sprinkled every 
evening. 
Seeds of the red-cedar are sometimes a little ob¬ 
stinate to start. After passing through the stom¬ 
achs of cedar-birds, they germinate readily. One 
can find thousands of little seedlings by the sides 
of fences where these birds congregate. 
Nurserymen sometimes start evergreen seed by 
sowing them in shallow boxes in the Green- 
House, or under the glass of a hot-bed frame. But 
for all ordinary purposes, the mode first mention- 
tioned is the one commonly practiced, and is 
sufficient. 
Planting Shade Trees. 
The best season in all the year for doing this 
work, has again returned. Trees have taken 
their winter rest undisturbed, have gathered up 
new forces in root, trunk, and limbs, and are now 
ready to exert them in making a vigorous growth. 
As yet, they are comparatively dormant. The 
kindly sun and the breath of the sweet south are 
beginning to arouse them, but they arc not fully 
awake. Now then, is just the time to remove 
them to the places desired, where in genial soils 
they may grow and spread themselves abroad for 
long years, and gladden the eye of the planter. 
Does anybody need exhorting to do this work 1 
We can hardly believe it; though stranger things 
have happened. Friend, please take my arm 
for a short walk. Let us go up this street at the 
right; it is (stepping over into the month of June 
for a while) well-shaded, and will make a pleasant 
stroll for us. Glad it’s shady, are you 1 so am I. 
What a good thought it was in Mr. Jones and Mr. 
Smith to set out these trees by the road-side 1 
These men were not satisfied with adorning their 
own grounds ; their taste would not be confined 
within their own fences, but spread itself abroad 
over all the neighborhood. Hence came this 
good road, and this well-made sidewalk, and these 
umbrageous trees. What, an excellent monument 
have they erected for themselves! For a cen¬ 
tury or two, at least, these elms and maples will 
keep the planters’ names fresh and green.—Yes, 
you are right in saying that a man who plants 
