72 ERYTHEA. 



the redwoods and spruces here are miserable specimens. One red- 

 wood tree iu AVillow Creek Canon is twelve feet in diameter, and a 

 spruce tree iu the same canon is more than three feet through. 

 This redwood is said to be the largest tree in Monterey County, and 

 it is certainly a fine specimen. 



On the summit of the ridge, from which the ocean can be seen, 

 Pinus Coidteri is the most noticeable tree. Somewhere in these 

 mountains, in 1831, Coulter collected the first known specimens of 

 this pine, noted for its enormous cones. His specimens probably 

 came from near Santa Lucia Peak, since he records it as growing 

 with Pinus Lamhertiana, and it is only there that the two 

 species are found together. Pinus CouUeri generally grows on 

 exposed and lofty ridges, but in these mountains it extends down 

 the sides of the mountain on the eastern slope almost to the banks 

 of the Nacimiento River, where it is associated with Pinus Sabi- 

 niana, the Grey-leaf Pine common on the low hills of the Naci- 

 miento and San Antonio Valleys. 



On the same ridge where Ptnus CouUeri abounds, Pinus pon- 

 derosa is also abundant, often growing with Pmus CouUeri, but 

 frequently forming exclusive groves of scattered trees . 



One poor little bush of Juniperas Californica was seen near a 

 never-failing spring on the Los Burros trail. Probably the species 

 is better represented in parts of the mountain not visited by the 

 writer. It is said to be common near Cruikshank's ranch. The 

 trees so far noted can all be seen, when crossing the range from the 

 Los Burros mines, on the ocean side, to the San Migueleta Ranch, on 

 the Nacimiento River. 



Another trail further north is now known as the Plaskett trail ; 

 formerly it was called Mansfield's trail. Piniis tuberculata is the 

 most noticeable conifer on the eastern side of this trail, and the 

 trees grow almost to the base of the mountain. Its lightly-clad 

 branches and numerous, persistent cones readily distinguish it from 

 the other conifers. 



Looking down into the deep canon of San Miguel Creek, south of 

 the trail, but near by, and off into the distant canon on the north 

 that marks the headquarters of the Nacimiento River, peculiar trees 

 can be seen lifting spii'e-like summits above all the others. These 



