Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-11-16
ca'gornia's Bto Trees.

ally those that are perfect the bark
being of cinnamon color and the
foliage deep green. The bark is
hbrous, and not at all hard, being fire.
quently made into pin-cushions for
those who like curios. The wood is
very soft, of light red color, beautiful
grain and very innammable. Years ago,
when the Indians used to hunt through
these woods, they would burn out the
underbrush so that they could hunt
with more ease. In this way many of
the trees have been injured They
have the power, however, OF repairing
this damage, and new wood slowly
forms over the burned parts. Often
trees, two-thirds burned away, can be
seen green and hourishing. They are
slow of growth, tree nineteen years
old only being thirty feet in height
When they first begin to grow they are
very delicate, but with care can be
grown in any State in the Union. There
are only two species of them
found in California--the .Seqnoia Sem
pe,vi,sns in the Coast Range, and the
Stqxoia Giganfea in the Sierra Nevada.
On looking at the xqu0ias one is
apt to be deceived as to their size The
trees around them are mostly sugar
| pines and frs, from four to eight feet
in diameter. These would be large
anywhere else, but here they look like
dwarfs. Visitors ought to spend some
days or even weeks among these giants
Of Nature, because first and even a
second visit to them carries with it a
feeling Of disappointment But, by re-
membering the size of the ordinary
trees, this will be overcome.
On driving up the road to the hotel,
you pass between two fine trees called
the "Sentinels." These are not straight
but lean towards each other, forming a
beautiful arched gateway into this won
derland.
From the porch of the hotel we can
see several groups, one Of which is
composed of three very fine trees
named "Grant," sherman" and "Mc-
Pherson." They were all beautiful,
but the "Grant" drew my attention
more especially, for / could not help
contrasting the strong, perfect tree with
that man, among the grandest heroes
this nation has ever known, who so
lately breathed his life away among the
Adirondacks.
! IKE the names that have been
chosen for most of the trees in this
|grove. They are those of our great
men: living monuments to their glory,
which will still be green thousand
years hence monuments that will not
tarnish with the action of wind and
weather, but that every storm will
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the most symmetrical.tree in the forest;
gradually tapering from circumference
of ninety feet, with foliage beginning
about one hundred feet from the
ground. Its limbs are as large as or.
dinary trees, "Daniel Webster" and
George Washington" on the other
side of the grove, can dispute with
Lincoln" for supremacy. They are
not the largest in the grove, but the
most perfect.
"rhe Mother Of the Forest" is near
the head Of the grove and would be
the largest standing tree il the bark
were not gone. The bark was taken
off and sent to New York, and then to
the first Crystal Palace, in London.
There trunk was built and the bark
set up around it. When the Crystal
Palace was burned, this also was des-
troyed. OF course, taking off the bark
killed the tree, which stands here,
raising its great white arms in mute ap-
peal for the grand beautiful life which
has gone from it. Leafless and with
out bark, it seems like the gigantic
spirit of the tree,it is so white and still.
1t is easier to realize its size than any Of
the others, as it stands little isolated
and is SO perfectly bare
The "Father Of the Forest" fell so
long ago that more than half its length
has disappeared and left no trace.
Trees, themselves hundreds of years
old, are growing where the old monarch
| of the forest must at one time have
lain. 1t is estimated to have been $50
feet tall There is cavity through
the heart OF the trunk, In which you
can ride ON horseback for seventy feet.
At one end of this cavity is knot-hole,
through which you can climb with the
aid OF ladder. If you are rather large,
don't be afraid TO try it, for '.they say"
people weighing two hundred and more
pounds have been through it. The
Empire State" is the largest living
.SeqnOia in this grove.
The trip to the South Grove is a
very beautiful one, over high ridges
and down through deep gorges. AT
the bottom of one of these gorges we
crossed one of the forks OF the Stanis-
laus river, here roaring torrent, rush
ing under, over and around huge
boulders, and filling the river from
brink to brink with foam. About
FIVE or six rods up the stream, it is
very placid and mirrors everything on
both hanke the whole forp,ino q hean