CHAPTER XVI 

 BIG TREES — SEQUOIAS 



What has been* said about the redwood applies with certain 

 exceptions to the big trees. The wood has the same general uses, 

 logging methods are identical, and costs, sale values, and stump- 

 age prices are similar. The major differences are in distribution, 

 and vigor of growth and reproduction. The groves of big trees 

 are the remnants of much larger forests which have been restricted 

 in area by climatic changes and more vigorous competitors. 

 Whether they will be able to increase in area with real protection 

 from fire, insects and fungi is a question. At present the big 

 tree is confined to about 15 localities on the lower western slopes 

 of the Sierra Mountains in California aggregating not more than 

 10,000 acres. In altitude the species is found from 5000 to 8000 

 feet above sea level and reaches its best development on cool, 

 moist, sandy or rocky soils in full enjoyment of the sunlight. 

 Unlike its cousin, the redwood, the stands are rarely more than 

 50 per cent big tree by number. Sugar pine, white fir and Doug- 

 las fir are its commonest associates. 



Little difference exists in the quality of the wood from the 

 two kinds of sequoia. Both have the same uses. Even their 

 size does not vary enough to affect their market value. The red- 

 wood reaches a greater height while the maximum diameter of the 

 big tree is 30 feet as against 20 feet for the redwood. 



As an investment for timber production the big tree does not 



offer the advantages that redwood stands do. The latter 



occupies a well defined and extensive area in which the climatic 



conditions are favorable for vigorous reproduction and rapid 



growth. The big tree, on the other hand, seems to be merely 



holding its own in certain restricted locaUties. It is not even 



certain that its competitors would not give higher returns on the 



same sites. 



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