131 



PRINCIPAL FOREST TREES OF THE CALIFORNIA 



RESERVES. 



CHAPTER XX. 



PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES ON THE SUBJECT. 



The men who have described the forests and forest trees of Cali- 

 fornia have all written poetry into their descriptions. True poetry is 

 that higher insight that inspires the soul. Indeed, it is but natural 

 that the poetic feeling should be shown when the grandest forests of 

 the woi'ld are being brought to the knowledge of mankind. 



Muir's "Mountains of California" is oue of these beautiful descrip- 

 tions of our mountains and their forests. It is well worth the forester's 

 study. 



The earliest attempt, of any importance, to give a complete scien- 

 t'fic description of the forest trees of California is that of Sereno 

 Watson and Dr. George Engelmann, in the "Botany of California," 

 published in 1880, uniform with the volumes of the Geological Survey 

 of California. The order Coniferae was largely written by Dr. Engel- 

 mann, the most acute student this group has had in America; and 

 his judgment is likely to be the final one in regard to our most diflicult 

 species. 



Next came Prof. J. G. Lemmon, who treated of the forest flora of 

 the Pacific Coast as an entirety by itself. This work was done under 

 the orders and at the expense of the old State Board of Forestry. It 

 is to be found complete in the biennial reports of the State Board 

 commencing with that of 1887-1888. Like a number of the works in 

 these reports, it has been republished in several editions. No State 

 reports have received the same amount of quotation and republication 

 by private enterprise as those of the State Board of Forestry. The 

 State should republish these reports. 



The latest and much the most elaborate work on the trees of 

 this country is by Professor Charles S. Sargent, "The North American 

 Silva," in thirteen volumes. Vols. 10, 11 and 12 treat of the Coniferae, 

 containing plates of the flowers leaves and cones of all our species 

 and varieties and a vast amount of information in the text. 



