MOUNTAIN TREES 



cone pine embedded in the tar with pre- 

 historic elephants, saber-toothed tigers 

 and giant sloths, showing that this tree, 

 in prehistoric times, grew much nearer 

 the coast. 



When the tree reaches an age of seven 

 or eight years it begins to bear cones. 

 These hang in close groups rigidly at- 

 tached to the main stem and after ma- 

 ture adhere indefinitely. Often as the 

 tree increases in size these persistent, 

 narrow-based cones become imbedded in 

 the bark. In the office of the Forest 

 Supervisor, Los Angeles, is a branch of a 

 tree less than nine inches long with 28 

 partially buried cones upon it. Some 

 trees, according to Sudworth, show that 

 they have retained their cones nearly 

 fifty years. The seeds of these, on being 

 opened, were found to be still alive, 

 showing a remarkable vitality over the 

 deciduous-coned pines whose seeds sel- 

 dom retain their power of germination 

 more than two seasons. The cones only 

 open when the tree dies a natural death 



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