254 THE WELLINGTONIA. 
and Judge Fitzhugh saw an extensive grove of much larger 
trees than these on the head waters of the San Joaquim 
river, about twelve miles east of those on the Frezno; but 
it has never been explored.”—(P. 151.) 
Every one interested in the growth of plantations in this 
country must have observed the great advantages derived 
by trees situated in glens and ravines, standing in a con- 
genial soil and undisturbed by the influence of “ far-fetched” 
and biting winds. An inequality of surface, even on a 
small scale, is conducive to rapid growth and lofty dimensions; 
something unusual therefore might naturally be expected 
in the vegetation of a country where the configuration 
of ground forms land-locked valleys, on the most magni- 
ficent scale yet known ; a waterfall is recorded 2550 feet in 
height, but being broken into three, the greatest actual height 
of one unbroken fall is 1500 feet, and nearly twice the height 
of Staubbach, the highest cascade in Europe. The shelter and 
seclusion afforded by the country for the production of timber 
is apparent from the following :— 
“Tu-toch-ah-nulah lifts up his square granite forehead 
3090 feet above the grassy plain at his feet, a rounded curving 
cliff, as smooth, as symmetrical to the eye, and absolutely as 
vertical for the upper 1500 feet as any Corinthian pillar on 
earth. I have seen the stupendous declivity of the Italian 
side of Monte Rosa, a steep continuous precipice of 9000 feet, 
but it is nothing like Tu-toch-ah-nulah, being nowhere ab- 
solutely perpendicular.” 
Previous to the disastrous fire at the Sydenham Crystal 
Palace, part of the bark from one of these enormous trees 
was exhibited on a prepared frame 116 feet high, showing the 
gigantic size of the tree from which it was peeled, which, though 
dead, still stands, it is said, 363 feet high, 140 feet to the first 
limb, 15 feet in diameter at 100 feet high, with its trunk 93 
feet in circumference at the ground level, measuring outside 
the bark, which was eighteen inches thick. The soil which 
has yielded these magnificent objects is said to be a deep, rich 
black loam. The groves form deep valleys in the mountains, 
