250 
GROWTH AND LONGEVITY OF TREES. 
woody matter, which is pressed out towards the circumference. By the con¬ 
tinuance of this process, the stem becomes so compressed that it is not capable of 
any further compression. Thus there is no space left for the introduction of new 
woody matter from the leaves.- The consequence is, that the full action of the 
functions of the leaves is prevented. The tree, therefore, perishes, because its 
vitality is dependent upon the full action of all its parts. Trees belonging to this 
class cannot exist beyond a definite period, which is seldom found to exceed 200 
or 300 years. 
The other class of trees increase principally in length, when young. They 
afterwards extend in diameter by means of longitudinal fibres being insin¬ 
uated by the leaves under the bark, on the outside of the wood. The bark 
being capable of indefinite extension, it is evident that nothing independent of 
accident can put an end to the existence of such trees. Eminent botanists see 
nothing implausible, and no one can point out anything impossible, in the idea 
that some trees of this kind at present existing may have been spectators of 
the flood. 
The age of trees belonging to this class can be ascertained by counting the 
number of rings into which they are divided. Every one of these rings must 
have been produced in neither more nor less than a year; and this is the ground 
upon which botanists have arrived at such precise conclusions concerning the 
longevity of some trees. We shall notice the ages of a few ascertained in 
this manner. 
Decandolle mentions an Elm 335 years old; a Cypress, about 350; a 
Cheirostemnn , about 400; an Ivy, 450 ; a Larch, 570 ; an Orange-tree, 530; 
an Olive-tree, 700; an oriental Plane, 720 ; a Cedar of Lebanon, about 800; 
Oaks, 870, 1,080, and 1,500; Limes, 1,070, and 1,147; Yews, 1,214, 1458, 
2,280, and 2,588 ! 
At Ellerslie, the birth place of Wallace, near Paisley, there is an Oak-tree 
which is said to have concealed under its branches Wallace and 300 of his 
followers. However doubtful this may be, it is certain that “ the Wallace 
Oak” cannot be much less than 700 years old. 
Eight Olive-trees still grow in the garden at Gethsemane, near Jerusalem, 
which can be proved to have been there more than 800 years ago, and which are 
alleged to have been witnesses of the Saviours agony. 
Such great antiquity, however, is small when compared to the age of the Baobab, 
some specimens of which, growing in Africa, Adanson found to be 5,000 years 
old! Even this great age is surpassed by that assigned to the Taxodiumhy 
Decandolle, who makes some specimens which he discovered in South America 
to be 5,840 years old! Adanson ascertained some Banian trees to be of equal 
antiquity. 
