The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1885-02-21
THE GIGANTIC REDWOODS
Along the Pacific COast-Thc Kedwood
"Iselt"-Grain of tho Wood.


IMcndocino Cor n. o. Times Democrat;
All tourist, in California must, either )cr
force or per fashion, visit the big trees o.
Caiaveras, but these gigantic redwool' givu
but faint and imperfect idea OF the forests
of California. There are several different
varieties. all of which thrive under different
conlitions The Big Trees" have fl f)urishe
above til, chiefs of their congener; in other
sections of the state, although the scl-foss
never reach th,m, AMI they stanl far above
the sea Level.
Along the coast an | notably in Men locin)
county those thrive best which grow nearest
the sea level, AMI above all, those which in
the Gcase Pacific fogs receive a daily
fog. bath for at least nine month, of the
year. This i; due not alone to the vivifyiny
influence of the moisture upon the foliage,
but alsD to the fact that their leaves pos ;es;
a peculiar power of condensng the vapor
which, dripping from them t. the ground,
answers every purpose of irrigation. indeed
these trees are called self f-;rrigators These
trees do not grow to any great hei 5ht abov,
the sea level at any place. Passing up the
coast from the lower lin, Of Sonoma county
(a point about sixty miles north of San Fran
CISCO, the traveller comes suddenly and I'M
dHiOuHCeu upon tuc Ict"OOu OclU
Strange to say there are no struggling
trees standing like sentrie, in advance Of the
main army, but they present at ono, a
solid phalanx The first rank, stand just at
tho brow of the HILL and while the south
side is as barren as those w3 have just
passel, on the Lo.,h side the forest i, a.
heavy as it i, in the very heart OF the belt
1t cease, in a like abrupt manner in the val
ln, - ,1,, 90 tI,.,
boundary line between California and Ore
gon, though a few clumos are foull overtime
Oregon line.
When the redwcol grows in swamps and
other moist places, there sometiIn IS form on
its outside remarkable excrescsace, Gale
redwood fungus" This appears in the
shape of huge knot or wart on the tree,
and is q growth OF the bark, not having any
distinct grain Whel cut into slab, this
knot shows mott!el, deep rel color, fill.
with little "birIs eye'" remarkably bealti-
full, and bcarin; nigh polish. In the north
ern relwools, one frequently sees bunche' Of
ferns and trailing plants growing on these
knots, the fallen leave; lOlgins Oh tn, pro-
tuberance having in time cr.at,
soil. These littl, air gardens are
very beautiful Sometimes redwood
tree Will CaKo uVlSC or curl when
young, which increases with its growth, and
in in due time forms "cur.y redwood" ex-
hibiting, when sawed, a success ion OF spiral
wllorls in the grain. Redwood is very de,ir-
able in the ground, but doe, not endure at
ulospher;c exposure nearly so we'll as some
other varietie, of wool. 1t will not bear a
heavy strain, being quite brittle, hence is
not aiapsel to ship-bul ling or other pur-
poses whers lishtness AMI strength is desired.
This feature is quit, potent factor in tn,
rapil exhaustion of the relwool supply, as
these treos tower to such an immens, height
and have 50 large diameter that when on,
is felled it not only frequently ccu'hes Others
in its fall, but large portions OF its own Lulk
are shivered into waste WOOL