Tuba. 133, 



The two largest standing trees are about twelve feet in diameter, 

 the four others are smaller. One fallen tree is twenty feet in diam- 

 eter at the base, and twelve feet at fifteen feet from the roots. There 

 are other small fallen trees. There had been, years before, a much 

 larger fallen trunk — some said twenty-eight feet in diameter — but a 

 fire had destroyed it. The height is not great, for sugar pines 

 standing near tower above them. 



This grove is situated in Placer county, about fifteen miles east of 

 Forest Hill, on one of the streams flowing into the Middle Fork of 

 American River. The altitude is about 5,000 feet. 



The country is without any traveled trails, and all about the grove 

 we saw tracks of California lions, bear, deer and other animals. 

 The grove cannot be seen until a person is within a hundred yards, 

 for the heavy-wooded canon sides close all about it. This, perhaps, 

 accounts for its being so long unknown to scientists. But to the 

 old prospectors it has long been known, for on the bark of alders 

 growing along the creek are cut the dates of i860, 1862, 1868, 1872, 

 1880, 1892, and others. I had only an hour to observe the sur- 

 roundings and take measurements, so this account is very meager. 

 I hope soon to make a more thorough examination of the " North 

 Grove." 



TUBA. 



BY EDWARD PALMER. 



Tuba, a beverage which is very popular in the State of Colima, 

 Mexico, is obtained from the cocoa palm by the following pro- 

 cess. 



The fruit-bearing stems at the time the flowers are forming have 

 their tips cut off and a gourd — sometimes two or three — hung from 

 each, so as to catch the sap which flows freely from the wounded 

 ends. Twice daily the liquid is collected from the gourds, a very 

 thin slice of the stem being removed at each visit, in order to main- 

 tain the flow of sap which would otherwise soon cease from the dry- 

 ing of the exposed surface. 



These gourds are often a source of curiosity to travelers, who 

 wonder not only of what use they are, but how the owner gets them 

 there. The height and slenderness of the trees prevent the use of a 

 ladder, and the natives reach the tops by means of notches cut in 



