Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-03-21

HlsTORY OF THE MAMMOTH IREEs.-
The hg lrr.. (C4L) Ijuilr'iu. IN its issue o'
day 18th. $50. gives the following r. vrri-
abi, history of the Big Trees IN Calavera,
ounry
Thi> forest is situated in a small valley.
surrounded by sp1r~ OF the Sierra N~Vada, al
the source OF one Of the trlbutarie Of the I al
averas river. Calavera~ county, fifteen mll'-s
from Murnhy's. twenty-five from Mokelunnr
I'LL. eighty from Stockton, eighty from Sac
.4mento, twenty from Columbia, and twenty
our from Sonora. The grove and IT. I'M
nense trees were discovered early in 1850,
Nv hunters, whose accounts were considered
dubious. until confirmed by actual measuTe-
nent \. r. Dowd, our present expresslnan
0 Carson Valley, was among the first dlscoN-
.rs; h.. was at that time employed hunting
.amr for the workmrn on the Union Canal
Co.'S work, whirh was In coarse of constrnc-
on. d. had wounded a -riZZly, and follow
ii him until he passed between the two
.Guartismen." 1.-TWO trees that guard the en-
rance Cf the grove.) The immense size and
Al .ht of these trees so surprised him that b.
est sight of the grizzly, who ma 'e his escapT
nto the dense underground. After stepping
II" distance around the base OF the trees, BE-
cast his ewes In northerly direction, and
iScov-red vet a much larger and Che sam
~ whose stump We are now wrIIng) who's
IA e he stepped and found to be near 10
f.et in circumference. Having los sight ni
trarks OF his grizzly, h. returned to camp,
yh4D he related to his ompanions his dIs"ov
nv Of the Biz Trees. They listened to his
>orv with marked attention, untl the cen
luSion. when they all IN pne voice eXrlalmtd
THAT'S a hunters v4rn--gOt a good fhIrg on
Id Dowd now" One, NOR" knowing than
he balance. placed his thumb on his
frohocis. and with a gentle ard graceful
wirl OF the fn4ers, lntIma'ed that " yo'
ant come it over me with your umbe
van. I'm TOO old a settler in the Mississippi
,tt0m- 20 b..lieve any su"h sto'V ~
ttat." Dowd. being rather sen>Irlve. aud n''
U;sbing his word dnub'ed, said no NOR" abou
mo- trees tor six months, when another part
,.hanred TO wander into the grove, and coz
rohorated all OF wds statements. The val
lev in which these trees are found, contain
about on. hundred and sixty acres OF land'
| ,ad j. 4 800 feet above the level OF the sea.
Over ont. hundred tire of this species are
n,w standing and are found within An area
If so acres of the valley. Acc DrdIng 10 bot
snist., they belong 10 the family OF Iarod'-
INNS. and have been Justly named NashIn"-
| ,on,s Gi0antea and are beyOnh doubt tn
| most stuprndous vegetable prod nets upon
..,rtb. The soil in the grove is a rich alluvi
! ,I worry depp and lonsp. The growth OF tn
! forest i the Wa,hing'Onia Gi4ant"a, BtlNam
| Fir. Cedar, Sugar Pine, Yellow Pine, Dog
wood. Hazel and luXurIant and dense ui'-
| derbrush: strawberries. raSpherries and cur
rants in great abundance; also rare plant
| xvh;,.r for richness OF color, surpaSses any
| hing in the mountains. BY some il Is called
the ice plant; its botanical Name has not as
vet been given IT,
| WINTER RuLEs.-NeVer 90 to bed with
cold or damp f ct. In going into colder arr
keep the mouth resoutely closed that oy
compel ng the air to pass ,rcuitously through
the nose and head, it may become warmed
! before il reaches the lungs, and thus prevent
! l., shnrks and sudden chills, which ire