30 BIG TREES OF CALIEORlSriA. 



the ground — the certain source of future fires. This mass of broken 

 branches, trunks, and bark, is often 5 or 6 or even more feet in thick- 

 ness, and necessarily gives rise to fires of great destructive power, 

 even though the Big Tree wood is not specially inflammable. The 

 devastation which follows such lumbering is as complete and deplorable 

 as the untouched forest is unparalleled, beautiful, and worthy of preser- 

 vation. As a rule it has not even had the advantage of being profit- 

 able. Very much of this appalling destruction has been done without 

 leaving the owners of the Big Trees as well off as they were before it 

 began. 



