The next time you see a tree stump take a closer look at its rings. Every year most trees produce a light-coloured ring of spring growth and a dark-coloured ring of summer growth. If you count only one ring not both rings, you will be able to tell how old the tree was when it was cut down.
Icons of B.C. arbutus trees are dying
Icons of B.C. arbutus trees are dying What is killing these graceful trees with their
smooth, cinnamon-coloured trunks, gnarly red branches and
year-round waxy green leaves? This is a question that has many
scientists puzzled. Climate change and an introduced disease from
California are the prime suspects in this "die-back" which is
killing trees on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. In
neighbouring Washington state, where the problem is even more
severe, the leading theory is that the trees are being weakened by
cliamte change and changes in their environment. They are then
susceptible to leaf blight and an intorduced fungus from
California. The fungus causes cankers that ultimately kill the
trees. MONDAY, MAY 28, 2001
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