534 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



which places it succeeds well, and is considered hardy, excei)t 

 at the last place where it is reported tender. 



WasUngtonia gigantea. The Mammoth Tree. 



This truly most magnificent of all trees — deciduous or ever- 

 - green — was discovered in a valley at the 



Weiiingtonia gigantea. source of one of the tributaries of the Cala- 

 sequoia gigantea. ^^^^^ California. Within an area of fifty 



acres only, ninety two trees of this species were found stand- 

 ing, beyond doubt the most stupendous vegetable products on 

 earth. 



They were first discovered in 1850, by some hunters, whose 

 accounts were considered fabulous until confirmed by actual 

 measurement. The largest tree was one called the " Father of 

 the Forest," four hundred and fifty feet high, one hundred and 

 twelve feet in circumference. The next largest the " Mother 

 of the Forest," three hundred and twenty-seven feet high, and 

 ninety feet in circuinfererice. 



Three trees, growing together, called the " Three Graces," 

 are each three hundred feet high, ninety feet in circumference. 

 There is another which has fallen, and through which a man on 

 horseback may ride seventy-five feet, and twelve feet in the 

 clear. These trees may be truly termed the " Lions of Califor- 

 nia," and in such estimation are they held, that it has been 

 found sufficiently remunerative to erect a hotel and run a line 

 of stages to Sacramento city and Sonora, for the accommodation 

 of visitors to these great natural curiosities. 



The botanical discovery of this genus was, however, probably 

 made by the unfortunate Douglas, in 1831, wheu he writes to 

 Mr. Hooker : " The splendor of the Californian vegetation con- 

 sists of a species of Taxodium which gives to the mountains an 

 especial beauty, which I may almost call terrible." 



This wonderful tree, which closely resembles, in our plants, 

 the Weeping arbor vitae {Thuja jUiformis), in its imbricated 

 leaves, of a more delicate color than the arbor vitse, being of a 

 pleasing light green, is, we are happy to say, promising to be 

 hardy in the United States. 



