162 



FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



commercial value, but the tree is very important in forming a cover for barren, 

 sandy, and rocky slopes too much exposed for most other trees. Its low growth 

 subjects it to destructive fires, but it persistently reconquers areas on which its 

 ranks have been severely thinned. 



Fig. 62. — Cupressus goveniana: a, seed. 



Longevity.— Little is known of its age. but it is believed to be fairly long- 

 lived. Trees from 8 to 14 inches in diameter are from 55 to 1)7 years old. The 

 age of larger trunks is probably 150 or 200 years, or even more. 



