THE FOKESTS 163 



superior powers of enduring variations of climate 

 and soil, it has a more extensive range than any 

 other conifer growing on the Sierra. On the west 

 ern slope it is first met at an elevation of about 

 2000 feet, and extends nearly to the upper limit 

 of the timber line. Thence, crossing the range by 

 the lowest passes, it descends to the eastern base, 

 and pushes out for a considerable distance into the 

 hot volcanic plains, growing bravely upon well- 

 watered moraines, gravelly lake basins, arctic 

 ridges, and torrid lava-beds; planting itself upon 

 the lips of craters, flourishing vigorously even there, 

 and tossing ripe cones among the ashes and cinders 

 of Nature's hearths. 



The average size of full-grown trees on the west 

 ern slope, where it is associated with the Sugar 

 Pine, is a little less than 200 feet in height and 

 from five to six feet in diameter, though specimens 

 may easily be found that are considerably larger. 

 I measured one, growing at an elevation of 4000 

 feet in the valley of the Merced, that is a few inches 

 over eight feet in diameter, and 220 feet high. 



Where there is plenty of free sunshine and other 

 conditions are favorable, it presents a striking con 

 trast in form to the Sugar Pine, being a symmetrical 

 spire, formed of a straight round trunk, clad with 

 innumerable branches that are divided over and 

 over again. About one half of the trunk is com 

 monly branchless, but where it grows at all close, 

 three fourths or more become naked ; the tree pre 

 senting then a more slender and elegant shaft than 

 any other tree in the woods. The bark is mostly ar 

 ranged in massive plates, some of them measuring 



