DOUGLAS SPRUCB. 39 



and in whose honor it received its final specific name. It 

 has been well described and renamed by many authors up 

 to the recent date of the last publication. This tree consti- 

 tutes a large portion of the heavily wooded timber lands of 

 fche coast and lower sierra. A short time ago, on the Central 

 Pacific Railroad, about three thousand feet altitude, were to 

 be seen specimens about two hundred feet high, nine to ten 

 feet in diameter, and some, fifteen feet. In closely crowded 

 forests they are even higher, reaching three hundred feet. 

 Here the trunk often forms a column straight as an arrow, 

 with scarcely a branch for from one hundred to two hundred 

 feet, Like most trees of dense forests, our conifers are colo- 

 naded and towered, so that it is rare to find trees spreading, 

 or even well spired continuously from base to summit, as 

 seen under cultivation. We notice, however, on the most 

 broken coast, those species of spruces and firs that climb the 

 tallest steeps suited to their habit, and are, least of all, liable 

 to be shut off from abounding sunlight and air, are those that 

 retain their branches long; a few such sentinels, outskirting 

 the crowded plateau-forests, also, are found of exceeding great 

 beauty; the branches from horizontal at length droop in 

 graceful curves with ascending star-spangled sprays, and 

 these in softened slightly silvery tips joyously upturned, like 

 the bent bow on its back, wooing the hand of some primitive 

 Nimrod ; thus, in due order, multiplying and successively 

 aspiring, feathery, and flossily thickened in with foliage of 

 unwonted delicacy, and grace inimitable. And again, where 

 we see them thriving luxuriously upon moderate mountain 

 elevations of free outlook, favoring soil, sun, and serial con- 

 ditions most conducive — as upon the lower mountain ranges 

 contiguous to the base of Mount Shasta — its intrinsic native 

 grace is greatly heightened to one's beau ideal of princely 

 elegance and beauty. Witness those most extraordinary 

 streamer sprays, seventeen to eighteen feet long, of similar 

 slender size of plumed curtain cords, drooping vertically, 

 like the Bridal Veil Fall in Yosemite ; or say, what could 

 exceed the stately grandeur with such a softened and grace- 

 ful flow of sylvan elegance as is displayed by this truly 

 " Vernal Fall " of the forest ? Nor is this exuberant sport all 

 of the " witch knot" origin, of Scottish renown, but, like that 

 of the Sitka Spruce, must chiefly spring from more highly 

 enriched soils and favoring influences indicated. 



The bark on older trees is dark brown, thick, coarse, and 

 rough ; water-ways deep, flaring, or gaping, often broken and 

 confused, and the general longitudinal fissure plan so jum- 

 bled as to bewilder the eye. In veteran forests they are more 

 or less charred by periodical fires — not always the wanton 

 work of man— for we have seen, several times in a single 

 season, the scathing fires of heaven, gleaming from clouds, 



