412 CORRESPONDENCE. [1855, 



having to deliver nine lectures in three weeks. We 

 had arranged to have a few days at New York, in 

 which I could work with Dr. Torrey ; but the good 

 man was called off to Washington on business just as 

 I left that place, and we crossed en route, and I came 

 on home in consequence. ... 



I am very glad Mr. Smith was pleased with the live 

 plants I sent. Please remind him that I should like 

 to share in the distribution of seeds this spring. And 

 if I find time to make out a short list, I may ask for 

 some live plants again. . . . 



I have a Cereus giganteus six inches high, and I 

 saw several others. They have no hair, and appear 

 very unlike C. senilis. . . . 



There is an authentic account in some numbers of 

 " Silliman's Journal " last year* of the size of that 

 prostrate trunk (Wellingtonia-Washingtonia). 



Mr. Blake, at Washington, told me something of it, 

 but I forget the numbers. I will ask him, as he is a 

 reliable person. But 450 feet is rather too tall. 



So they would talk about the tree that was felled 

 being 3,000 years old (and took in Lindley), whereas 

 it was not quite 1,300 ! It appears to grow much 

 faster than S. sempervirens. 1 . . . 



1 On the 2d July, 1872, Dr. Gray saw the Calaveras and Mariposa 

 groves. In the Calaveras Grove he counted, with one of his fellow- 

 travelers, the rings and took measurements of the fallen tree " Her- 

 cules." His memoranda of the size, etc., were : 



Height when standing was 315 feet. 



A section at 21 feet from ground was 6 feet 10 inches radius, on 

 the line counted. 



Layers 



Counted on it 1,500 



Uncounted sapwood (est.) . 30 



centre " . 10 



Growth to 21 feet " . 10 



Estimated age (years) . . 1550 



Rate of growth. 

 First century . . 10j in. radius 



" 400 years . 27 " " 

 Last century . . 3 " " 

 Last 400 years . 14 " " 



