, 1885-01-24
TIE GIGANTIC Rspwoops


4NLUU| tho iNNfAA 90 80" ~
-Beit--Grain Of the Wood
nicndocino Cor. n q. Times-Demo>rafl
An tourists IN California must. either per
force or per fashion, visit the big trees OF
Calaveras but these gigantic redwoods give
but q faint and imperfect idea Of the forests
of California There are several different
varieties. all OF which thrive under different
conditions. The "Big Trees" have i0urlshe1
above tbs chiefs OF their congeners In othor
sections OF tho state, although the soa-fogs
mover reach thom, and they stand far above
tho son level.
Along the coast and notably in Mcnlocino
county those thrive best which grow nearest
the sea level. and above all, those which In
the dense Pacific fogs receive a daily
fog-bath for at least nine months Of tho
year. This 4 due not alone TO the vivifying
influence Of the moisture upon the foliage,
but also to the fact that their leaves possess
a peculiar power OF condensing the vapor
which. dripping from them b the ground,
answers every purpose Of irrigation Indeed,
these trces are called self -irrigators- Thee
trees do not grow to any great height above
the sea level at any place. Passing up the
coast from the lower limo Of Sonoma county
Ia point about sixty miles north Of San Fran
CISCO, the traveller comes suddenly and I'M
announced upon the redwood belt
Strange to say, there are no struggling
trees standing like sentries in advance Of the
main army, but they present at oncs a
solid phalanx. The first ranks stand just at
the brow OF tho hill, and while the south
side Is as barren as those we a just
passed, on the north side the forest Is as
heavy as It Is in the very heart Of the belt
1t ceases in a like abrupt manner, in the val
ley OF Smiths river, Il tow miles south Of the
boundary line between California and Ore-
gon, though a few elumps are found over tho
Oregon line.
When the redwood grows In swamps and
other moist places, there sometimss forms on
its outside a remarkable excrescence, called
redwood fungus This appears in the
shape OF a huge knot or wart on tho tree,
and Is a growth OF the bark, not having any
distinct grain. Whom cut into slabs this
knot shows a notified, deep red color, dlled
with little Hbird's eyes, remarkably beauti-
full, and bearing a high polish In tho north
ern redwoods, ono frequently secs punches Of
ferns and trailing plants growing on these
knots, the fallen leaves lodging OF the pro
tuberance having In time created
a soil. These little air gardens are
very beautiful Sometimes a redwood
tree will take a twist or curl when
young, which increases with its growth, and
In IN due time forms @curly redwood" ex-
hibiting, when sawed, a succession OF spiral
whorls In the grain Redwood Is very desir-
able In tho ground. but does not endure at
mospheric exposure nearly SO well as some
other varieties OF wool IL will not bear a
heavy strain, being quite brittle, hence Is
not adapted TO hip-building or other pur-
poses where lightness and strength Is desired.
This feature Is quite a potent factor in tho
rapid exhaustion of the redwood supply, as
these trees tower 10 such an immense height
and have 30 large q diameter hat when ons
is felled IL not only frequently brushes Others
in its fall, but large portions Of Its own bulk
are shivered into waste wool