BIG TREE 227 



from five thousand to eight thousand feet above the sea. 

 While growing largely in groves, it is found scattered 

 among other species. The total area in which it grows com- 

 prises about fifty square miles, and as it is probably limited 

 to this region, it can cut but a small figure as a lumber- 

 producing tree. Many of the giants now standing and 

 which, if permitted, would live for several thousand years 

 will undoubtedly be cut, notwithstanding the fact that 

 only from twenty-five to thirty per cent of the contents of 

 the average tree is secured, owing to breakage in falling, 

 failure to take what may be deemed of inferior quality, 

 high stumps, and loss through splitting logs to reduce them 

 to a size that can be sawed into lumber. Add to this the 

 destruction by fire or changed surroundings of practically 

 all young growth on the area cut over, and the danger of 

 extinction is apparent. It is gratifying to note that the 

 United States Government has secured some of the best 

 groves, which have been placed beyond the reach of vandals, 

 and it is devoutly wished that more will be secured. 



Their dimensions are enormous. The largest trees are 

 from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and thirty 

 feet high and from twenty to twenty-seven feet in diame- 

 ter next above the swelled base. Old trees are clear of 

 branches from eighty to one hundred and twenty-five feet 

 or more. They are long-lived, reaching an age of three 

 thousand to four thousand years, and possibly more. 



The wood is a brilliant rose-purple red in color when 

 first cut, changing later to a dull purplish brown. It is very 

 light, brittle, soft, varying in grain, during the first four 

 hundred or five hundred years' growth, from coarse to very 

 fine as the tree approaches old age. Containing a large 

 amount of tannin, the wood is very durable. It is used for 

 general construction, shingles, siding, and almost all pur- 

 poses to which a soft, durable wood can be put, but it is 

 largely sold in the market as Redwood, and it must be 

 admitted that the purchaser is not wronged. 



It is a prolific seeder, and if permitted would reproduce 



