254 PRACTICAL FORESTRY 
Indians. The Big Tree, which is known to botanists 
as Sequoia washingtoniana, was named for Sequoia, 
an Indian chief, who, it is said, was the first of In- 
dians to invent an alphabet. 
In an exceedingly interesting and valuable pub- 
lication on the Big Trees of California recently is- 
THE Bic TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 
sued by the Bureau of Forestry, there is the follow- 
ing summary: 
I. The dimensions of the Big Trees are unequaled. 
II. The age of the Big Tree makes it the oldest 
living thing. 
