ESSAY UPON REDWOOD. 9 1 



with the best results of applied workers at home and abroad, 

 in all departments of those uses for which this timber has 

 been commended. As we have before suggested more 

 careful choice of quality, and as this also greatly depends 

 upon judicious sectional selection as for example, the lighter 

 softer, more homogenous textured, that neither expands nor 

 contracts with varying humidity, from the higher off-coast of 

 Humboldt regions ; so for the harder, stronger, less fragile, 

 from the nigher coast middle region of Mendocino south- 

 ward, must need be well chosen for given purposes indicated. 

 It must be confessed that little has ever been done in this 

 line as it should be, to do justice to any timber whatever ; but 

 besides this more northern and relatively sheltered Eel and 

 Elk River region, groups, groves or specimens anywhere in 

 higher, drier soils ; as the wood is well matured, or, so to 

 speak, ripe, the uniform testimony is that it makes the best 

 timber. Now, the experienced and observant woodsman will 

 readily select for you many such choice trees in any locality 

 where they are found at all ; but it is not always easy or prac- 

 tical for him to communicate this art to wiseacres, and he 

 is generally too sensible to talk tact to a tyro among the trees ; 

 or even with the very best intentions, kindliest inclinations 

 and efforts, very little tree-lore will ever fall to the lot of us 

 inland lubbers amongst this sort of lumber or indeed, thor- 

 ough knowledge in any branch, uninitiated. Nevertheless, 

 if the top-leader of a trim and shapely tree has been snapped 

 off in years of yore, and is still sound as a bell as it is most 

 sure to be, so long as the main shaft itself remains alive it 

 is proof positive of prime stuff throughout. Could this, by ar- 



