HEAVY YELLOW PINE. 53 



Although this Fur Western Yellow Pine comes in second 

 abo.ve Sabin's Gray Pine as we ascend the Sierras, and is 

 very abundant and of the best types on the higher ranges, 

 more especially east, yet it is also a Coast Range pine — in 

 this latter region the cones are much smaller, seldom over 

 three or four inches long by two to two and a half inches 

 broad, and the brown seed, although rounder and not so 

 sharp, is about the size of apple-seed; whereas, the Jeffrey's 

 form (by some considered a good distinct species, certainly 

 a quite characteristic variety for the culturist), found at 

 middle and higher altitudes, has cones at least three or four 

 times as large — from six to eight inches long by four to six 

 broad — old straw beehive shape, and striped or variegated, 

 seeds twice the size. Where transient mountain streams lave 

 the roots, and perhaps other conditions favoring, the cones 

 are often more elongated or not so strictly ovate-conic — this 

 we take to be the Beardsley variation — and so others besides 

 the extremes one sees beneath every tree, but the general 

 resemblance of the several synonyms of the type is such that 

 it may warrant their union into one species, even if we reckon 

 them eminent and choice varieties. Some of these majestic 

 trees, seventyrfive to one hundred or one hundred and fifty 

 feet high, are found with massive spreading branches of pecul- 

 iar aspect, unwonted among pines; but for the most part 

 this species is towering, lofty, and clean colonnaded below, 

 hence its availability as timber for manifold economic uses. 

 In a brief historic point of view, as connected with this pine, 

 it may be well to note the import of those little basins or 

 ring-ridges of sand so often seen encircling the base of these 

 pines. It is the work of the Indian — designed to entrap and 

 collect the fat luxurious worms that infest these trees — who, 

 firing the straw on the still air of late Summer and early 

 Autumn, the rising smoke among the boughs offending them, 

 they let go, swinging down to the ground, whence they betake 

 to the trees again, and, falling into these pits, their futile hold 

 upon the treacherous sandy margin causing a continual 

 backward tumble into the bottom of these shallow pits — 

 thence the squaw gathers them into baskets for food — thus a 

 double purpose is subserved : that also of cleaning the ground 

 preparatory to the fall of seed.* In allusion to the pine, the 



* As miles and miles of forest — not a tree less than two hundred feet or more 

 high — may be summarily divested of their caterpillars simply by women and chil- 

 dren, what shall we say of our own stupidity if we do not learn how, after seeing 

 it done before our eyes ? Now why not thus free our tiny patches of woodlands, 

 fields, orchards, rural tnd municipal shades? With plenty of fire and smoke, men, 

 women, and children, and a little civilized sense left yet! certainly none will say 

 the plan is not practicable. But suppose it may not apply to all cases (none but an 

 empiric would ever be foolish enough to think that, in the first place), nor to any, 

 perhaps, if we scorn all insect lore (Entomology). Sneer at it as " bugology," and 

 its devotees as like "ologists." Thus doing, certain and sure, old Prince Belzebub 



