HISTORIC TREES 143 



distinction of being regarded by many as the 

 world's largest tree, is situated in the Valley of 

 Aragua in Venezuela. It is called the Zamang 

 de Guerro, after Christopher Guerro, who discov- 

 ered it during the sixteenth century. It was visited 

 by Humboldt about 1800 and made famous by him 

 throughout the world. It is said that its far-reach- 

 ing branches form a circumference measuring five 

 hundred and sixty-one feet. It is made very beau- 

 tiful by the orchids and other tropical parasites 

 which hang from its boughs. 



It should not be imagined that these two trees 

 are examples of a caprice of nature which occasion- 

 ally allows isolated specimens to grow for many 

 centuries beyond their allotted time. While the 

 average life of the common trees of our streets 

 and gardens is not greatly in excess of that of a 

 human being, there are whole races of trees which, 

 like the man-giants of old, live for incredible periods 

 of time. 



There are hundreds of sequoia and redwood trees 

 in California which are between three and four 

 thousand years old. Almost all of them which have 

 been cut down show wood which is remarkably 

 hard and free from decay, indicating that the 

 species may live to double their present age if given 

 the opportunity. Furthermore, it is claimed that 



