THE OLDEST TREES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 40, 1 February 1932, Page 5

THE OLDEST TREES

SOME IMMENSE AGES. Why is it that a tree never ceases to grow? There are various reasons. AU things contain within themselves the seeds of decay and even it accidents do not happen the inner core of tho tree trunk decays, and so slowly the whole of it dies. Yet the length of life of a tree is often much more than that of a human being. No one knows definitely which is the oldest tree in the world, but it is believed that the giant sequoia trees which grow on tho slopes of the Sierra Nevada, in California, are not only ttie oldest trees, but are the oldest living things on tho earth. They aro certain.., more than 2000 yeais old, and some of them aro thought to bo even 5000 years old. Tho ancient cedars ol Lebanon aro quite young in comparison despite their 2000 years. In Mexico there is a tree which must be thousands of years old, and which was a giant when Cortes rested under it. The circumference of the trunk is li feet, and twenty-eight people with arms outstretched and finger-tips touching can just encircle it. Claims have been made that the old est tree in Europe is the yew of Fortingal Perthshire. De Candolle and Sii Robert Christison estimated it to be 3000 years old and, although only two fragments of the enormous bole remain, they are still putting forth shoots. The oldest surviving species of tree is undoubtedly the ginkgo, sometimes known as the maidenhair tree. This tree lived before tho ice age, and.seeds have been found embedded in prehistoric, elay and rocks. Now it does not grow wild anywhere, usually being planted ■near temples in China.

A tree which owes much to its development by an English ruler is the mulberry, writes Charles H. Lea, in the “Birmingham Mail.’’ In 1609 Janies I addressed a circular to the sheriffs, deputy-lieutenants and others throughout the kingdom, expressing his anxiety to “wean the people from idleness.’’ He suggested that they should plant mulberry trees in immense numbers, and then emulate tho industry of silkworms by developing the manufacture of silk. To set an example, the King planted four acres of St. James’s Park with mulberry trees, and one of those who seems to have followed tho Royal example was William Shakespeare, who planted a mulberry tree at New Place, Stratford-on-Avon. This tree stood until 1758, when a certain Parson Gastrell, who lived at New Place, being annoyed by visitors, cut down the tree and used it as firewood. Great resentment was caused, the house was surrounded and Gastrell fled. It is said that he was forbidden to return, and that the townspeople decided never again to allow anyone of the same name to return to the town. Well known to Midlanders is the Boscobel Oak in Shropshire, in which Charles hid after the battle of Worcester, and in the neighbouring county of Montgomery there is an historic oak from which Glendower watched tho defeat of Hotspur in 1403.

In Hertfordshire there are two fine trees, the first is the Hadley Oak, which marks the spot where the Earl of Warwick fell in the Battle of Barnet in 1471, and the other is Lady Anne Grim, stem's tree, which deserves a paragraph to itself.

Lady Anno lived a gay life and was convinced that there is no after life, “it is as unlikely,’’ she said, “that I should live again as that a tree should grow out of my body.” She was buried and almost forgotten when tin marble slab above her tomb was found displaced. A new slab was put on, and after some months this was cracked, and through the crack a young shoot appeared. A metal fence was put up, and now four stout trunks, forming what is thought to be the largest tree in England, issues from the tomb, while the marble and the metal are twisted into shapeless masses.