Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-28

cannot now De cataloSued In full, but the
cones of the evergreen trees may be specified.
Mr.. kliBk, in response to an inquiry con-
corning these, replied [ have no desire to
speak of this collection. but l do love our
magnificent evergreens, and if any spirit can
be awakened to work out their preservation,
l shall feel that good and great work has
been done. OF all these splendid trees on
this coast there is scarcely one that is not
valuable as an article either of commerce,
horticulture or for medical purposes.
THE TREES OF THIS COAST
Represented by these cones and seeds belong
ing to the family Abietinea, a subdivision of
the genus conifere, are:
l. Picca nobiis, magnificent tree, grow
ing up to 200 feet in hight, which 1 find
| hourishing principally in the Shasta noun
tains. 1t has dark green leaves, which APP
pear silvery underneath. 1t yields excellent
timber, and is cultivated largely in Europe
for ornamental purposes, being grown there
from the seed.
2 Picea amabilis, similar tree, growing
especially near Truckee, where large forests
of them exist, called by lumbermen red dr
it has, however different cones and lighter
foliage than the fir.
g. Picea grandis, a fine tree, rising up to
200 feet in hight, called by lumbermen white
fir or balsam fir. The lumber is, however,
not much esteemed, being soft and coarse
grained but it is exceedingly handsome as
an ornamental tree, and would probably
grow in this-region, as l have seen small
tree or trees of it recently furnishing in the
nursery of Mr. Ebel.
| 1. Plcea Cracteata, perhaps the hand
soonest of all conifers. 1t is found growing in
the Santa Lucia mountains Monterey and
San Luis Obispo counties. 1t is a tree of
surprising beauty, and highly esteemed in
| England, where young trees of this species
are growing. The seed is extremely valua
! bic, on account of the fact that many years
pass by before the cones become perfect and
produce seeds capable of termination. You
will see what a delicate cone it bears, how it
has tbrous coat to protect it, how have
4! to bind it with wire to save it. There is in
| San Luis Obispo county grove of 100 of
these trees. worth trip any tine to see.
Nowhere else are many found. Unless this
grove is protected it will soon become extinct,
as young trees are growing in it. The
| tree would seem to have ceased to reproduce
itself here. 1t must have aid and protection.
No one has laid eyes on the handsomest cone
bearer who has not been SO fortunate as to look
up at the Picea Cracteata, the beautiful tree,
as they call it in Europe, where they consider
it rare gem.
5. Abies Douglasii, most valuable tree of
California, especially cultivated in Europe,
growing easily in almost any soil, excellent
for timber, and found largely in Northern
California and north to British Columbia.
6. Abies Menziesi and seventh, Abies
Wi!liamsonii, grow chiefly in northern Cal
ifornia. The lumber is used only for rough
purposes, and is not very valuable Mr..
klink here pointed out that the FIRST four are
of the true frs while the fifth, sixth and
seventh are the spruces of the coast. His
further explanations of the cones may be
thus
SUMMARIZED.
s. Pinus Lambertiana, the sugar-pine, the
grandest tree of the country, cultivated in
northern Europe now largely because of its
excellent timber qualities. and most of the
growth there is from seeds sent from here,
especially from British Columbia and by the
Hudson Bay Company during the last
| twenty-five years.
g. Pinus Jeffreyii, beautiful pine grow
ing especially thick near Carson, New. 1t is
esteemed highly in Europe because of its foil
age, its usefulness for lumber and its applica-
bility for orEamentation. and because it will
grow upon the meanest soil. 1t reaches an
average hight of $50 feet. II is one of the
hardest of evergreens. 1t has large cones
with pyramidal hooked scales.
10. Pinus Coulter, found only in the coast
range rises about 60 or 20 feet distinguished
as having the heaviest cones of any of the
family of conifels.
II. Pinus Manchester, named after the
| Duke Of Manchester, who discovered it in
the Yosemite Valley. Botanists believe it to
be only variety of pinus ponderosa 1t has,
however, larger cones.
II. Pinus tuberculata, "a small evergreen
found mainly in the Shasta mountains. The
cones do not, often, open for years, and in
order to get out the seeds high degree of
heat has to be applied, such are the resinous
qualities Of the cone.
Is. Pinus insignis, the Monterey pine, one
IF the handsomest of the whole species. 4
fine specimen is growing on the lawn at the
residence Of Mrs. E. b. Croker, in this city.
1t has beautiful light-green foliage, which is
too tender for Europe, where it fails under
cultivation.
H. Pinus ponderosa, or heavy wooded
pine. II is the pitch-piue of the mountains
above the altitude of 1000 feet
The fifteenth specimen represents Pinus
monticola. which grows at an altitude OF
from 5000 to 5000 feet. 1t is tall and
erect sugar pine and is used largely for rail
road ties because of its durability.
The sixteenth specimen represents Pinus
aristata 1t grows rarely in California
The seeds Mr.. Klink secured from Colorado.
1t is called the awned cone-pine. He saw
some of the trees near the Calaveras Grove.
1t reaches 30 or SO feet in hight.
MORE CoNIFERs.
II. Pinus contorta an exceedingly tough
wood, and does not rot. 1t has recently been
introduced into Europe. Douglas found it
on swamp grourd on this coast, near the
ocean. 1t is found in many northern parts
of the continent 1t is very hardy.
Is. Pinus edulis, small tree found large
ly in the lower country, and yielding edible
nuts.
10. Sequoia gigantea; the big trees of
70; Il ;hal LII Ill
reference is not necessary. Its synonym is
Wellingtonia gigantes, and it is also known as
Washing tonia gigantea. The cones are de-
scribed as about two inches long, ovate, ter
minal, solitary, and with numerous prickled
stipitate scales. The honor Of the discovery
of the great trees is in dispute, as is also the
derivation of the name sequoia.
20. Sequoia semperviren. This is the
half brother OF that last named, and is the
redwood tree of the coast.
81 Libocedrus decurrens is the California
white CEDAR The trees grow very large,
reaching a hight Of 200 feet. 1t is excellent
timber for use underground Many of the
trees are affected by dry-rot.
%. Cupressus fragrans, or the fragrant cy-
press. 1t grows principally in Oregon, and is
there called the ginger pine, because of its
Gr0matic flavor. 1t is fine wood, and is
used in the best furniture in Oregon largely.
CONCLUSION.
There are other fine specimens of the ever
green cone bearing family which Mr.. Klink
has gathered. but the foregoing are the most
prominent. Very much more of interest
could be added concerning each--indeed
every cone and seed is the text for historic
recital, botanical essay and interesting anec-
dote and beside Of geological lectures, for the
conifere came into being at period coeval
with the formation of stone coal, and is sug-