168 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



DOUGLAS "SPRUCE 

 (Pseudotsuga Douglasii) 



THIS tree is the king of the spruces, as the Sugar 

 Pine is king of pines. It is by far the most majestic 

 spruce I ever beheld in any forest, and one of the 

 largest and longest lived of the giants that flourish 

 throughout the main pine belt, often attaining a 

 height of nearly 200 feet, and a diameter of six 

 or seven. Where the growth is not too close, the 

 strong, spreading branches come more than halfway 

 down the trunk, and these are hung with innumer 

 able slender, swaying sprays, that are handsomely 

 feathered with the short leaves which radiate at 

 right angles all around them. This vigorous spruce 

 is ever beautiful, welcoming the mountain winds and 

 the snow as well as the mellow summer light, and 

 maintaining its youthful freshness un diminished 

 from century to century through a thousand storms. 



It makes its finest appearance in the months of 

 June and July. The rich brown buds with which its 

 sprays are tipped swell and break about this time, 

 revealing the young leaves, which at first are bright 

 yellow, making the tree appear as if covered with gay 

 blossoms ; while the pendulous bracted cones with 

 their shell-like scales are a constant adornment. 



The young trees are mostly gathered into beauti 

 ful family groups, each sapling exquisitely sym 

 metrical. The primary branches are whorled regu 

 larly around the axis, generally in fives, while each 

 is draped with long, feathery sprays, that descend 

 in curves as free and as finely drawn as those of 

 falling water. 



