Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-11
THE GIGANTIC REOWOOOS

Along the Pacific Coast-Ths Redwood
"BeIs''-Grain of the Wood.
NIendocino Cor. y. o. Times Democrat
All tourists in California must, either per
force or per fashion, visit the big trees of
Calaveras, but these gigantic redwoods give
but a 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 hourished
above the chiefs of their cOngeners in other
sections of the state, although the sea-fogs
never reach them, and they stand far above
the sea level
Along the coast and notably in Mendocino
county those thrive bes. which grow nearest
the sea level. and above all, those which III
the dense Pacific fogs receive a daily
fog bath for at least nine months of the
year This is 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 coudensing the vapor
which, dripping from them t. the ground,
answers every purpose of irrigation. Indeed,
these trees are called self -IrrigatOra These
trees do not grow 10 any great height above
the sea level at any place. Passing up the
coast from the lower llns Of SOnoma county
Ia point about sixty miles north OF San Fran
ciscol, the traveller comes suddenly and un-
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 once a
solid phaanN. The first ranks stand Just at
the brow of the hill, and while the south
side is as barren as those We have just
passed, on the north side the forest Is ~
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, few miles south OF the
boundary line between California and Ore
! gon, though a few clumps are found over the
| Oregon line.
| When the redwood grows in swamps and
| other moist places there sometimes forms on
its outside a remarkable eNcrescence, called
| redwood fungus This appears ius the
| shane of a huge knot or wart on the tree,
and is a growth OF the bark, not having any
| distinct grain. When cut into slabs this
! knot shows a notified, deep red color, filled
| with little "DirIs eyes" remarkably beauti-
! full, and bearing a high polish. In the north
| ern redwooIs, one frequently sees punches oi
ferns and trailing plants growing on these
knots, the fallen leaves lodging on the pro
| tuberance having in time created
soil These little air gardens are
| very beautiful. Sometimes a redwood
| tree viii take a twist or curl wheE
Young which increases with its growth, and
| in in due time forms "curly redwood" ex
| hibiting. when sawed, succession of spira
"tr'-'i' 49, - ---;.-- Pa lgond is very deSlr
able in the ground. but does not endure at
mospheric exposure nearly so well as som'
| other varieties of wood 1t will not bear
heavy strain, being quite brittle, hence i
not adaptei TO ship-buliing or other pur
poses where lightness and strength is desired
This feature is quite a potent factor in tn
! rapid exhaustion of the redwood supply, q
these trees tower to such an immense hsign
and have So large diameter that VIXEN ca
is felled it not only frequently crusaes othsr
in its fall, but large portions of its own bal
are shivered into waste wood