American Association at Dubuque. 285 
”7 
Separate groves may be reckoned upon the fingers, and the 
trees of most of them have been counted, except near their 
Southern limit, where they are said to be more copious. 
Species limited in individuals holds its existence by a precarious 
enure ; and this has a foothold only in a few sheltered spots, 
of a happy mean in temperature and locally favored with mois- 
ture in summer. Even there, for some reason or other, the 
Plnes with which they are associated (Pinus Lambertiana and P. 
Ponderosa), the firs (Abies grandis and A. amabilis), and even the 
Mcense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens a great advantage, 
and, though they strive in vain to emulate their size, wholly 
verpower the Sequoias in number. ‘To him that hath shall 
be given.” The force of numbers eventually wins. At least 
in the commonly visited groves Sequoia gigantea is invested in 
lts last stronghold, can neither advance into more exposed posi- 
tions above, nor fall back into drier and barer ground below, 
hor hold its own in the long run where it is, under present con- 
ditions ; and a little further drying of the climate, which must 
Ouce have been much moister than now, would precipitate its 
doom. Whatever the individual longevity, certain if not speedy 
18 the decline of a race m which a high death-rate afflicts the 
young. Seedlings of the big trees occur not rarely, indeed, 
