11 



al 



: 



In the Sierra 



not to be seen in any other tree, hereabout 

 at least. The branches are whorled in fives 

 mostly, and stand out from the tall, straight, 

 exquisitely tapered bole in level collars, each 

 branch regularly pinnated like the fronds 

 of ferns, and densely clad with leaves all 

 around the branchlets, thus giving them a 

 singularly rich and sumptuous appearance. 

 The extreme top of the tree is a thick blunt 

 shoot pointing straight to the zenith like an 

 admonishing finger. The cones stand erect 

 like casks on the upper branches. They are 

 bout six inches long, three in diameter, 

 lunt, velvety, and cylindrical in form, and 

 very rich and precious looking. The seeds 

 are about three quarters of an inch long, 

 dark reddish brown with brilliant irides- 

 cent purple wings, and when ripe, the 

 cone falls to pieces, and the seeds thus set 

 free at a height of one hundred and fifty 

 or two hundred feet have a good send off 

 and may fly considerable distances in a 

 good breeze ; and it is when a good breeze 



