The American Museum Journal 



Vol XII 



NOVEMBER, 1912 



No. 7 



"Lady Lena" bistrec with room cut out and door fitted in the trunk. 

 Sequoia National Forest, Tulare County, California 



Diameter 21 feet. 



PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BIGTREES ^ 



By George B. Sud worth 



[chief of dendrology, united 8T.4TE.S FOREST SERVICE) 



EVERYONE who has visited CaUfornia's famous sequoias admits 

 that their real grandeur and the reverence they inspire cannot be 

 appreciated without stanchng in their presence. Comparisons with 

 other trees fail utterly to give a correct impression of their gigantic size. 



1 The Museum's specimen of bigtree collected by special expedition to California some 

 twenty years ago, has been recently moved from the Darwin hall to the west end of the forestry 

 hall. Here it has been newly faced off and put again on e.xhibition with labels pointing out 

 the centuries of growth from 5r>0 A. D. to lSi)l A. D. and relating the history of this growth 

 to that of the development of the worlds science and art. 



Interest in the bigtree is peculiarly great at this time when wood and forest production 

 are recognized paramount in importance to the American nation. Ts there a future as well as 

 a past for this tree from prehistoric times, which has the ability to attain a height of 300 feet 

 and an age greater than that of any other living thing, and which has remarkable value 

 whether destined for the timber market or permanently for the mountain side? Can young 

 sequoia forests be made to rise on land bared of their giant forefathers by fire or lumbermen? 

 The question has been a disputed one. Dr. Sudworth's article represents personal investiga- 

 tion in the various California groves. The photograiihs arc by the author. — M. C. D. 



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