BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
387 
tree be so durable as to continue sound for three hundred years. The 
tree may continue alive for that or a longer period ; but not those 
layers of wood formed three hundred years ago. Many individuals of 
the common oak, now standing in this country, are known to have 
existed above three hundred years; but it is extremely questionable 
whether any portion of the layers of wood formed then, are now 
sound.]] 
Mr. Babbage goes on to state, that, “ in order to commence the 
series, it might be possible to connect some of those older trees with 
some of those deposited in the more recent portions of the earth’s 
strata, as the latter and the former may have existed at the same time, 
although in different stages of growth ; and the next attempt might be 
made with those imbedded in our deeper bogs, and the connection 
pursued till all traces of vegetable existence were lost in the primitive 
rock.” 
Connected with the views of Mr. Babbage in the above extract, and 
alluded to by that gentleman in it, Mr. Mackay, curator of Trinity 
College Garden, “ submitted a polished piece of Irish yew, which fur¬ 
nished a striking instance of the slowness of growth and great age 
attained by this species. The particulars were communicated by Mr. 
Charles W. Hamilton, Honorary Secretary of the Horticultural Society 
of Ireland. The number of annual layers or circles in this specimen, 
proved its age to have exceeded five hundred and forty-five years. Mr. 
Mackay adduced several arguments to prove that this tree is indigenous 
to Ireland, and at present consists of two species—the spreading or 
common yew, and the upright or Floren’s-court variety. He stated 
also, that many fine specimens of the species might be seen at Comber, 
and near Antrim, and at Mr. Bourne’s, of Terenure, near this city. 
“ A member of the section mentioned a yew tree, the property of 
Mr. Tennant, of Bangor, of which at present a portion only remains: 
forty years ago, however, it was measured by a gentleman, who counted 
the layers in a given quantity, and making the proper allowance for 
the difference in breadth between the central and more superficial 
circles, pronounced its age to be coeval with (if it did not exceed) the 
Christian sera. Several hybrid varieties of the tree were reported to 
the meeting by members. 
ce Dr. Litton, Professor of Botany, stated that the tradition of the 
great yew at Mucross, in Killarney, exactly corresponded with the 
number of years indicated by its layers. 
“ Air. Mackay read a paper on the discovery of several plants indige¬ 
nous to Ireland, which had not before obtained a place in the catalogue 
of Irish plants. This last included a number of heaths found by him- 
