172 AMERICAN FOREST TREES 



trrmcly limited range, the pine because of its exceedingly rapid growth when given a 

 chance, and the fir, because of its peculiar form of crown, odd appearance of cone, and 

 extraordinary weight of wood. No reason is apparent why that particular point on 

 the California coast should have brought into existence or at least should have 

 gathered to itself three peculiar tree species. Bristlecone fir is well named from the 

 bristles an inch long covering the cone. The leaves, too, are peculiar, bearing much 

 resemblance to small willow leaves. Theif upper sides are deep yellow-green and the 

 under sides silvery. The largest leaves are two inches long, cones three inches. 

 They ripen in August, and soon afterwards scatter their seeds. The tree is not a 

 prolific seeder, and it is believed that its range is becoming smaller. Bristlecone's 

 form of crown has been compared to an Indian club, the large end on the ground and 

 the handle pointing upward. Trees from sixty to eighty feet high have such 

 "handles" twenty or thirty feet long. That peculiarity of shape makes the tree 

 recognizable among associated species at a distance of several miles. The recorded 

 weight of the wood is 42.27 pounds per cubic foot, which is nearly twice the weight 

 of some other firs. The wood is moderately soft, but very firm. Few uses for it 

 have been reported. Trunks are very knotty, and are too few in number to be of 

 importance as a source of lumber. The tree has been planted successfully for orna- 

 ment in the south of Europe. 



BIGCONE SPRUCE (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa) is of the same genus as Douglas fir 

 and bears much resemblance to it, but is smaller, and its range lies wholly outside 

 that of its northern relative. It is a southern California species, occupying mountain 

 slopes and canyons in Santa Barbara and San Diego counties. It is found from 3,000 

 to 5,000 feet above sea level. Trees average forty or fifty feet in height and two or 

 three in diameter. The leaves are approximately of the same size as those of Douglas 

 fir; but the cones are much larger, hence the name by which the tree is known. It is 

 called hemlock as often as spruce. The cones are from four to seven inches long, hang 

 down, and usually occupy the topmost branches of trees. The winged seeds are half 

 an inch long. The bark is six inches or less in thickness. The wood is inferior in 

 most ways to that of Douglas fir, lighter, weaker, and less elastic. Its color is reddish 

 brown. It has never contributed much lumber to the market and never will. Its 

 range is local and the form of the tree is not of the best. An occasional log reaches a 

 sawmill, but the principal demand is for fuel. 



