The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-04-15
THE CALIFORNIA FORESTS.

We copy from letter of w. r. Prince, Esq, of
Flushing, pubised in the American Agriculturist the
following: description of the trees of California :
The immese forest region of California lies within
30 or 40 miles of the summit of the Sierra Nevada
and is comprised principally of pines, cedars, and
arbor Vita. Many Of the most majestic pines grow
within hive miles Of the loitiest peaks, and are I'M
surpassed and perhaps unequalled in dimensions by
any of the species of the same family found in any
other section of the globe. These resinous trees
seem only suited TO a cool situation, as they no.
where arrive at the same dimensions when found
growing IN warmer localities and they are never met
with at all until you ascend the mountain region about
1870 miles above San Francisco; and the dimensions
OF the respective trees continue to be enlarged YOU
advance, until you have reached the very elevated
region before referred to. The largest coned pine
which is called here 'gum or pne,' on account of
the pitch which exudeS from it, and of its saccharine
flavor, attams height of $50 to 300 feet in the most
favorable positions but in the arid regions of the
lower ranges of mountains it is limited to 100 feet
1t spreads its lateral branches to considerable ex-
tent, the leaves are eight inches long, light green
and three In sheath; the cones, before opening ARE
~ inches IN circumference at the base, and of pro-
portionate length; the eds similar in size to those
ofthe European stone pine Piaus pinea ,)and equal
ly paatable and anxiousIy sought for and eaten
by the Indians, and by the Spanish inhabitants The
new cones are formed the beginning of October, and
have the shape of rosette and the mature ones shed
their seeds towards the middle of the same month.
The smal-coned pine attans at equal stature, I'M
der the same circumstances, but is Of spiral growth
the branches extending but moderate distance and
forming contract Pyramid the leaves are nine in
ches In length, dark-green, and three in a sheath
the cones of this species only one third or one
fourth the size of those of the preceding species the
seeds are small, and shed at the end of September
The young cones are formed in October
The Californian cedar, growing the Snowy
Mountains attalns height of 200 to $50 feet and is
found in the loest regions ntermingle with the two
before named pines. The arbor vitae attans height
ofabout 30 feet on the rivers near Sacramento and
Stockton, and after you have assembled the first range
of mountains, but the Serre Nevada it rises TO the
height ofS0 feet more, forming regular and
beautiful cone.
The next evergreen in point of beauty, and which
by many might be deemed superior to the preceding,
on account of its distinctive character is nlagnici-
cent taurus, bay ree which attains the height of
20 feet with diameter of four to five inches 1t is
rather large shrub than tree, with profusion of
branches thicky clad with foliage, the bark yellow
ish-green the leavesdeep-green with an even border.
lanceoate, about four inches long, and one broad,
alternate, but rreguary placed around the branches
at about half an inch from each other 1t is very
tn rlity the fruit ovate about the size of a small
lime, and usually two or three together, rendering it
highly ornamental. They remain green until Octo-
Der, when they become straw-colored, and attain
their maturity. Both the fruit and the leaves are
odorierous and pleasant, having the same fragrance
as the West-lndian bay. from which ebay rum is
made.