The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28
SeGnoid Gigdnted.
BY WILLIAM R DUDLEY.

BY WILLIAM r DUDLEY.
CProfessor Of Botsny, Stanford University
CThe general interest in the bill now be-
fore Congress Tor the preservation OF the
Calaveras grove Of big trees makes any
data pertaining 10 these marvellous works OF
nature of more than usual interest The
following new and heretofore unpublished
sentinE the researches OF Professor William
r. Dudley OF Stanford University were pre-
eented 10 the Senate by Platt OF Connecticut
with a view 10 eulightening his colleagues
upon the subject Of California's giant treesl
The age Of the Sequoia gigantea can
only be obtained by actually counting
the concentrated rings Of growth on the
cross section Of the felled tree. OF the
trees carefully examined and the rings
counted the Oldest possessed 242S rings,
or had begun its existence 525 b. c. Ex-
tended scrutiny undoubtedly would
bring 70 light trees that were older, al
though few in number. 1 do not expect
any 10 exceed 5000 years in this cutting.
Does each annular ring Of the struc-
ture seen in the cross section represent
years growth? It does in the climate
Of the Pacific Coast, with its sharply
marked wet and dry seasons. ! have
been able repeatedly TO demonstrate
this in Monterey pines. Monterey cy-
presses, SequOia sempervirens, and
even in Sequoia gigantea itself in such
specimens in the arboretum Of Stanford
University as we have removed on ac-
count Of injury from insect attack or
drought.
A remarkable recuperative power fol-
lowing an injury was found after ex-
animation Of the sequoias Of the Con-
verse Basin. The effects Of certain tre-
nendous forest fires occurring centuries
ago were registered in the trunks Of
these trees and the record completely
concealed by subsequent healthy
growth Among a number Cf similar
cases the most instructive record Of
these ancient forest fires was observed
in a tree Of moderate size-abOut Is
feet in diameter-5 feet from the
ground It was go feet in height and
2l71 years old.
This tree when felled had an enor-
nous surface burn on one side 80 feet
in height and occupying Is feet of the
circumference cf the tree; this was
found 10 have been due to a fire occur
ring in A. D. 1877. The tree when cut.
in 1900, had already occupied itself for
103 years in its efforts TO repair this
injury, its method being the ingrowing
Of the new tissue from each margin OF
the great black wound. When the tree
was cut the records Of three other fires
were revealed. The history Of the tree
was as fellows:
27l B. c. il began its existence.
The first year Of the Christian era it
was about 4 feet in diameter above the
base.
2z5 A. D., at SIG years Of age. occurred
q burning on the trunk feet wide.
one hundred and five years were occu-
pied in covering this wound with new
tissue For one thousand one hundred
and ninety-six years no further injuries
were registered.
1441 A. D.. at 1712 years Of age, the
tree was burned a second time in two
long grooves and feet wide, respec-
lively. Each had its own system of re-
pair.
One hundred and thirty-nine years OF
growth followed. including the time oc-
cUpied by covering the wounds
1880 A. D.. at 1851 years of age, occur
red another fire, causing a burn on the
trunk ? feet wide. which took fifty-six
years to cover with new tissue.
Two hundred and seventeen years of
growth followed this burn.
1877 A. D., when the tree was 206S
years old, a tremendous fire attacked
il, burning the great scar IS feet wide.
One hundred and three years, be.
tween 1877 and 1900, b: enabled the
tree TO reduce the exposed area of the
burn to about Il feet in width.
Il is TO be noted that in each of the
three older burns there was thin cav
. ity occupied by the charcoal of burned
surface, but the wounds were finally
fully covered and the new tissue above
was fun, even. continuous, and showed
no sign Of distortion or of the old
wound.
The above details are given to show
the wonderful vitality and freedom
from disease and decay possessed by
these trees. If protected from fire and
the lumberman they would undoubtedly
live to a much greater age than at
present, and would furnish the best
living objects for scientific study and
measurement covering a long period
OF years extending from one human
generation to another. These measure
ments would have a bearing on our
knowledge of the laws of growth as
affected by periods Of varying climatic
conditions. 1t happens that the only
measurements already made were made
on the Calaveras big trees t-,rty years
ago by the geological survey of Califor-
MA. 1t comes near being a crime to not
only destroy objects among the most
interesting in the world, but to throw
away data useful to the science Of the
future. as viii be done If the Calaveras
trees are felled.
Ifs..-0-. Dro-.,r--