The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-16
BEAUTIES OF CAPITOL PARK.
1T IS A WILDERNESS OF RARE
AND STATELY TREES.
Sequoias, FRS, Stately Roman
Pines and Marvellous HimalayaH
Cedars Side by Side.

OCua3S S10C Ny $780,
Comparatively few of the thousaiiu0
who visit the Capitol Park each ye'l
know the extent of its groves VI lH
and beautiful trees; yet a carelua
vey of the grounds shows that thei ~
large variety of valuaple
throughout the park. Whether one a.
ders through the grounds, or views ~
varied growth from the streets 'ui
rounding them, the impression
by systematic survey is that soine -
the most symmetrical and rare trees IL
the world are thriving side py slue'
trees from all quarters OF the sioDo'
some Of them carrying the nina pach "
the beginning of the Christian era, soi,'e
to ancient Lebanon, and others " ny
historic forests of Italy, or to the poi ca
regions of the far north. But WhelieA
one views the handsome Roman piiea,
the giant SequoiaS, or the peautli ui
tulip trees of the sunny South, ne WIZ
be alike pleased and instructed as ne
beholds the variety of leafy beauty that
meets the eye in all directions.
A Record Union" reporter recently
made a. tour of the Capitol grounds Tor
the purpose of noting some OF the peau-
tiful and rare specimens there growing
He was accompanied by botanlst OF
reputation (who modestly declines TO
have his name mentioned), and the facts
that follow were elected as a. result OF
the pilgrimage:
just to the west of the windows OF the
Office of the State Board of Horticulture
is majestic Brazilian pine, known as
Araucaria bidwelii. 1t is beautiful
confer; evergreen, medium in size, and
handsome in shape. This is considered
one of the most striking trees of the
pine family, and, though it is native IN
the Chilean mountains, and is found in
some of the Pacific islands, it is quite
rare There is not a more symmetrical
tree in the park 1t has been there for
thirty years
Almost abreast of the Governors Of
flee, to the west, are two imposing
Washington palms about twenty years
old These are quite beautiful, and they
are greatly admired by visitors.
In front of the first terrace west of the
Capitol are several specimens of Mon
terey cypress, relics of the early times
when agriculture assumed semi-geo-
metrical shapes. torturing natural
growths out of all beautiful forms
Many modern gardeners say that such
growths are denominations, and that
they should be uprooted.
On the second terrace is a magnolia
grandifiora, which is very beautiful.
These trees are very common in the
Southern States, but they are also ad-
mirably suited to the climate of Cali
fornia, and they flourish particularly in
alluvial lands, blooming the year round.
At the base of the second terrace to
the west are several specimens of the
Cedrus deodar, or Himalayan cedar, one
oe the most magnificent varieties of the
entire cedar family. These trees attain
great size, living for hundreds of years.
They form vast forests ON the south
ern slopes of the HimalayaS of India.
At the northern and western sides of
the Capitol may be seen four magnifi-
cent specimens of the Sequoia semper
virens, or coast redwoods. They are still
very young and their age is estimated
at thirty-ftve years. This family was
once very abundant in the northern
hemisphere. where there were about
thirty varieties Only two varieties,
however survived the ice age-the red
woods and the Sequoia gigantea.
On terraces Immediately adjacent to
the trees last referred to are a number
of spruces and frs, which are not very
we'll suited to this climate, but they
live here, and they afford a pleasing
contrast to the trees indigenous to the
soil With snow about their roots in
the stormy regions of their nativity
they attain an enormous size.
In the same vicinity is the Guadalupe
cypress. which is akin to the Monterey
cypress. The park specimen is probably
thirty-five or forty years old.
just to the south of this is a fine
young specimen of the Sequoia gigantea
that marvellous giant that lives for
thousands of years, and whose branches
so hundreds of feet above the observer.
The park specimen is not over forty
years old and 1t affords striking illus
tration of the effect of north winds in
bending the trees. This specimen leans
to the south because it has been bent by
the prevalence of north winds.
But of all sights in the park, perhaps
the most imposing is the handsome row
of Italian or Roman pines. They extend
along the south side of the park, form
ing a beautiful border for the entire
length. They are rare in California,
but they do we'll in this climate More
stately, symmetrical trees cannot be
found anywhere.
Outside of the entry gates of the park,
at each entrance, stand two specimens
of Sequoia gigantea. They are growing
by the sidewalks, where they have no
room. In few years they will uproot
the pavements, rip out the sewers and
burst the gas pipes and mains. They
should never have been planted there.
and they should be removed next win
ter, before they are too old fer trans
planting.
Beyond the entrance at Eleventh and
n streets are several specimens of the
Australian black waffle They do not
do we'll in California, except right on
the coast. ri
On the first terrace east of the Capt.
toll are several fine specimens of the
white cedar of California and Oregon.
Beyond these, at the south gate of the