Santa Rosa and San Rafael. 299 



in the bottoms about Guerneville range from eight or ten to twenty-one feet 

 across. It is proper to say, however, that the stumps of these trees give a 

 somewhat exaggerated testimony as to the size of the trunks. The redwood 

 flares out as it approaches and enters the ground. It does not come straight 

 down to the earth, as a black walnut or yellow poplar, but widens and sends 

 out flanges. The lumbermen saw the trees down by a section about eight 

 feet from the ground, but even at this height the tree is swollen considerably 

 beyond its diameter, say fifty feet from the earth 



The wood and bark of the redwood have been a hundred times de- 

 scribed. I will add, however, a touch or two to former contributions. 

 The great mass of brown bark lying between the outer and rough coat 

 and the sap of the tree is susceptible of some of the finest appearances 

 imaginable when it is properly cut. Take a piece of it, thoroughly dried, 

 and cut it in cross section with a fine and rapid band-saw, and the surface- 

 will present a seal-brown velvet, fluctuating to the touch like plush, and 

 giving oft" rich gules when held at an angle with the light. In this form 

 it makes most elegant cushions for pins, needles, and, indeed, all such in- 

 struments of torture. A remark may also be added with respect to the 

 wood. It is, certainly, the most splitable of all vegetable fibers. With a 

 good, strong pocket-knife you can rive a fence-rail into long fine splinters, 

 so perfect and free is the grain. Nearly all the wooden buildings in this 

 part of the country are made of redwood. The yield of lumber from one of 

 these forests reaches out toward infinity. The Santa Rosans, later in the 

 day, showed us a handsome and commodious church in the city which was 

 made, from sill to pinnacle, from the lumber of a single tree. 



After a stay of an hour or two at Guerneville, we returned to Santa 

 Rosa, which was, indeed, the principal aim and end of our journey. I 

 should estimate the population of the place at six or seven thousand, may 

 be more. One of the best of our receptions and banquets had been made 

 ready for the arrival of the Society. A delegation of leading citizens con- 

 ducted us to the opera-house, and there made to us elegant and appropriate 

 speeches. Thus did Colonel M. L. McDonald, and thus did Dr. A, F. White 

 and Mr. H. W. Byington. The responses were by Vice-President Munson 

 and Messieurs J. H. Masters, of Nebraska ; Professor Van Deman, of the 

 Division of Pomology at Washington; J. M. Smith, of Wisconsin; G. P. 

 Pefter, of the same State; Dr. O. P. S. Plummer, of Oregon ; and J. C. Rid- 

 path, of Indiana. 



The local excursion through the city and surrounding country was 

 under the direction of Hon. M. L. McDonald. It was a delightful drive, 

 through a region most fertile, rich in growing fruit trees, and beautiful 

 by adornment. One of the most exquisite views I had in California was 

 from the high ground in the cemetery, looking toward the sundown. On 

 our return to the city our section of the cavalcade passed through the 

 beautiful grounds of Mr. McDonald, where everyth'ng that artistic taste 

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