4:6 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



nal Pressure, 388; Resistance to Indentation, 68; Weight of a Cubic Foot 

 in Pounds, 17.96. 



USES. Manufactured to some extent into lumber for general construc- 

 tion purposes, for fencing, boxes, shingles, etc. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES so far as known have not been detected in this 

 species. 



NOTE. The age of the Big Trees is an interesting matter of speculation, 

 and we believe it is generally very much underestimated. By way of 

 illustration let us consider the age of the tree from which the material 

 for the accompanying sections was taken, as a large chip out of the side 

 of a tree left standing. This tree was 8 f t. in diameter inside the bark. Now 

 by counting the rings of the section we have, and a little figuring, we will 

 see that this tree, only 8 ft. in diameter, was about 1,800 years old, if 

 the rings were .of the same thickness throughout as those shown in the 

 section. It is reasonable to suppose that they were about the same, but 

 even allowing that they were not as thin (they may have been even thin- 

 ner) it is right to presume that this tree must have been at least twelve 

 or fifteen hundred years old. If that be so, what must be the age of the 

 largest trees, 30 ft. and upwards in diameter ? Many of the trees now 

 standing must have been quite large trees at the commencement of the 

 Christian era. 



Unlike the Redwood of the coast, which reproduces so abundantly by 

 sprouts or suckers, this species sends up but few if any suckers, and 

 reproduces freely from seeds, many little seedling shoots springing up 

 after the trees have been removed. 



143. SEQUOIA SEMPERVIRENS, ENDL. 



REDWOOD. REDWOOD OF THE COAST. 

 Ger., Calif ornianischer Rhotholz; Fr., Rouge-bo is ; Sp., Madera roja. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS : Leases of two sorts, the principal ones linear, ^-f in. 

 long, mostly acute and pungent, sessile, keeled below and by a twist in the bases 

 forming a flat spray, bright green above, glaucous beneath and the leaves centrally 

 located upon the spray the longest, the others gradually shorter both ways. The 

 other sort of leaves is found on the peduncles, main shoots, and at the bases of the 

 spreading flat sprays; they are shorter, likewise keeled below, scale-like, appressed, 

 with free point and about 2-3 lines in length, differing little from the leaves of the 

 Sequoii gigantea, excepting in being leas acuminate. The foliage often presents a 

 brownish or bronze-green aspect. Staminate aments rather larger than in the 

 8. gigantea. Fruit oblong, cones 1 in. or less in length, with about 20 scales, each 

 bearing 3-5 brown seeds, 2-2 lines in length. 



(The specific name, sempervirens, is the Latin for evergreen, although a character 

 equally true of the other species.) 



A magnificent tree, second only to its brother, the Giant Tree, in 

 size, it sometimes attains the height of 300 ft. (92 m.) or moi?e, with a 



