The Glenwood post., 1909-12-25

ulSu, "llu SlTlH eACeeuluS
so feet, and numberless 9th
ers OF the same species, but of small
er size. Other famous groves are the
Calaveras, South Park. TuoIumne.
Fresno. Gen. Grant, National park and
Tule river groves.
The Calaveras grove was discov-
cred in 1853. and was first described
in the Gardeners Chronicle" pub
ltshed in London. AS the Big Trees
of the Sier1as were supposed to be-
long to new genus of conifers, pro-
fessor in the University of London
made haste to christen this genus
"Wellingtonia," species "Gigantea"
Soon afterward it was proven that the
giant trees of the mountains belonged
Coast range, already named the Sc
quota Sempervirens, and this gener-
ic name finally prevailed, writes John
l.. Cowan in Illustrated Sunday Mag
azine. 1t is worth noting that this
nomenclature immortalizes a Chero-
kee Indian of mixed blood, named Sc
Quoyah, also called by the English
name John Guess. who devised an al
phabet for his people, and first re-
duced their language to printed form
He was a native of Alabama, but was
exiled to New Mexico where he died
in 1S43. His achievement marks him
as one of the greatest of American
Indians, so that 1t is not inappropriate
that his name Is perpetuated in that
of the greatest of American trees.
On account of its accessibility, the
Mariposa grove is the one most fire.
quently visited. For 40 years it has
attracted tree lovers and sight-seers
Most of the very large trees in the
grove have been given the names of
states. cities. prominent men. or more
or less fanciful appellations, such as
the -Four Guardsmen," the pillar Of
the Temple" and "Felice" (the last
334 feet high.)
The real King OF the Forest is the
tree in the Mariposa Grove known as
the Grizzly Giant" This is 1O4 feet
in circumference at the ground and
2S5 feet high. Five feet above the
ground it is 80 feet In circumference.
1t takes % men with outstretched
arms, and finger tips barely touching.
to encircle it. 1t is claimed that six
men can ride around this tree on
horseback, keeping equally distant
from each other, and that not one can
see another The first limbs are 100
feet from the ground. One of these
is more than 20 feet in circumference.
or nearly seven feet through-large
enough itself to be counted a great
tree anywhere but in California. Many
other limbs are from two to five feet
in diameter. so that 1t has been said
that If the limbs were all cut from the
Grizzly Giant and placed upright in
the ground, they would make very
respectable grove of really big trees"
themselves. Its age has been various
ly estimated at from 5000 to 5000
years; and John Muir once said that
this is the only sequoia he ever saw
that appeared to have reached the
zenith of its growth. Considering its
height. girth. age and awe-inspiring
appearance, this venerable tree may
doubtless be pronounced the grandest
tree in the world. There are others
that are higher. and there are many
that are larger in circumference; but
perhaps there are none that embrace
so many elements Of tree-greatness
The Fallen Monarch" is a great
tree in the lower grove that has been
lying upon the ground for generations
but il still untouched by decay. A
roadway has been built that makes It
possible to drive q four-horse stage
coach UP on the trunk. traversins its
entire length to the wide-spreading
roots: and score Or more oe mount-