My First Summer 



though the elevation is but little higher 

 there. The two-leaved pine, though far 

 more abundant about the Tuolumne meadow 

 region, reaches its greatest size on stream- 

 sides hereabouts and around meadows that 

 are rather boggy. All the best dry ground 

 is taken by the magnificent silver fir, which 

 here reaches its greatest size and forms a 

 well-defined belt. A glorious tree. Have 

 fine bed of its boughs to-night. 



September 13. Camp this evening at 

 Yoscmite Creek, close to the stream, on a 

 little sand flat near our old camp-ground. 

 The vegetation is already brown and yel- 

 low and dry ; the creek almost dry also. 

 The slender form of the two-leaved pine 

 on its banks is, I think, the handsomest 

 I have anywhere seen. It might easily pass 

 at first sight for a distinct species, though 

 surely only a variety (Murray ana}, due to 

 crowded and rapid growth on good soil. 

 The yellow pine is as variable, or perhaps 

 more so. The form here and a thousand 



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