The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1920-03-12

Very few of our boy and girl readers have
ever seen CALIFORNIA; big trees, These trees
are probably the largest and oldest in the world
and too tall and big for any boy to climb.
When We consider the shortness of human
life IL seems almost impossible TO believe that
there are still in existence on this earth living
things that were alive and growing for centuries
before the birth Of Christ and that many OF
the most nomentous events or history transplre
during the life of two epecies OF trees still hale
and hearty in the valleys OF California
The redwood and IT, near relative, the n'g
tree scientifically called Scquoiah are the
survivors OF a genus which was once widely
distributed over the earth. Fossil specimens
of Sequoia have been found in Greenland and
in northern Europe, hut since glacial times the
redwood has existed only IN a narrow strip
along the Pacific Coast and the big trees have
beer confined TO a few groves IN the California
SierraS.
These trees are wonderful apart from then
great age for the great, towering trunks
majestic in their strength and resistance are
as beautiful as the human mind can conceive
The storms of centuries have beat M vain upon
their outStretchod limbs. and the forest fires
that consumed their lesser brothers have been
unable TO quench the life from the sturdy
trunk. Long before the white man came the
indians found shelter i'm their midst and long
before the Indian the same shade was available
for the Wild beasts that roamed about
The big tree or SeQuola. rs oil no great COM
mercia Importance. and most OF the groves
have been set aside as public Fairgrounds, 10
preserve these oldest living things Tor tourists
OF the future The wood of the big tree rs
lighter and more brittle than that OF the coast
redwood, to which if Is inferior in practically
every respect g. ... durability. Big tree Is
cut INTO lunlS- some oytr.t, lut its chief
value is for 20 $50 sAaEc. q .rkcs for vine
yards From one tree, eet N diameter
there was cut $1,000 grape stakes 5000 posts
and $1,000 shakes
While the California redWoodS are not as
large nor as old as the big tree, they are next
IN importance FOR size and age, and, m addition.
they are OF great commercial value, for the
lumber made from redwood has many qualities
not possessed 10y other species.
The redwoodS grow TO gigantic height
ranging from POO 10 300 feet, and some reach
ing 400 feet The diameter averages from i
TO 10 feet with an occasional one reaching -
feet I'm old age the trunk rises TO a great
height bare of boughs, while on The upper part
of the branches are short and irregular. Inc
bark is red deeply fupoWed, with the ridges
often much curved and twisted. When young
the trees are very graceful, the stem rises
straight ard taperiug. with somewhat irregu-
lar whorlS of dropping branches the lower ones
sweeping the ground. The twgs are denselN
clothed with flat spreading linear leaves OF "a
fine glossy green. II Is a valuable tree loi
lumber as It's grea; size and clear grain makes
il possible TO secure any dimensions required.
1t splits readily and evenly and planes and
polishes well.
Groves of giant redwoods are scattered along
the coast of California. within the fog belt.
They seem to require the ocean fogs to ad
their growth. One of the most beautiful and
accessible groves is found in the Muir Woods
in Marion County and within six miles of San
Francisco.
Whether We consider the redwoods from the
viewpoint Of their age and size and measure
their value from an eSthctc standpoint, or
Judge them for their commercial Importance to
the lumber industry. they loom up as a species
of wonderful characteristics and value and well
worth their conservation and preservation for
future generations.