■BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 107 



oaks, often catcliing a glimpse of the adjacent pine-clad mountains^ the 

 Mammoth Tree Hotel is reached in two and a half or three hours. Here 

 the proprietors, Messrs. Laphara and Haynes, offer every accommoda- 

 tion to parties, visitors, or boarders, at reasonable charges, it being 

 their aim to make the Grove a fashionable and popular place of resort. 

 The valley in which these trees are found contains about one hundred 

 and sixty acres of land, and it is estimated to be four thousand feet 

 above the level of the sea. The distance from Sacramento City by the 

 stage-route is ninety-five miles, and from Stockton eighty-five miles. 



" Ninety-two trees of this species are now standing, and are all found 

 within an area of fifty acres of the valley. They are evidently a gigantic 

 species of Cedar, as is indicated by the growth, bark, and leaf; accord- 

 ing to botanists however they belong to the family of TaxodiumSy and 

 have been justly named JFasJnngto7iia gigantea, and are beyond doubt 

 the most stupendous vegetable products upon earth. They were dis- 

 covered early in 1850 by hunters, whose accounts were considered 

 fabulous until confirmed by actual measurement. 



" Wm. W. Lapham, one of the present proprietors, located and 

 settled here in July, 1853.^ The valley enjoys a delightful climate 

 during the summer months, entirely free from the scorching heats of 

 the lower country, the vegetation remaining fresh and green, while the 

 water is a perfect luxury, pure as crystal, and almost as cold as ice. 

 The vicinity offers every inducement to sportsmen: all kinds of game 

 common to the country abound, while the adjacent streams afford ex- 

 cellent trout-fishing. Delightful horseback or buggy rides conduct the 

 visitor to many interesting points of scenery or objects of curiosity, 

 among which may be mentioned the Falls of the San Antone, and the 

 Basaltic Cliff on the North Fork of the Stanislaus Eiver. 



" 1. Adjoining the hotel, with which it is connected by a floor, 

 stands the stump of the big tree, covered by a rustic arbour ; it mea- 

 sures 96 feet in circumference and is 7 feet high. A section of two feet 

 was taken from this stump, also a section of bark 50 feet long, by 

 Capt. Hanford, and carried to New York for exhibition ; they are now 

 in Paris. The surface of the stump is smooth, and affords ample space 

 for thirty-two persons to dance, it being 75 feet in circumference, solid 



♦ In the same year, and, it would appear, nearly at the same time, Mr W^a. 

 Lobb collected copious seeds and specimens. As boou as possible thereafter he re- 

 turned to England with Ins treasuiU ; and the discovery and partic;i^ar» of the tree 

 were given by Dr. Lindley in the ' Gardeners' Chronicle for December of the same 

 year.— Ei>. 



