14 
BULLETIN 604, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Table 10. — Relative diameter, heights, and merchantable lengths of incense 
cedar; basis, 1,089 1 trees. 
[CURVED.] 
Relative total height 
Average 
in different localities. 
Diam- 
eter at 
breast- 
height 
(out- 
side 
bark). 
Stan- 
islaus 
Na- 
Plu- 
mas 
Na- 
Se- 
quoia 
Na- 
Mini- 
mum 
height. 
Maxi- 
mum 
height. 
Total 
Mer- 
chant- 
Num- 
ber of 
Aver- 
age top 
diam- 
Basis 
num- 
tional 
tional 
tional 
height. 
able 
16-foot 
eter 
ber of 
For- 
For- 
For- 
length. 
logs. 
inside 
trees. 
est. 
est. 
est. 
bark. 
Inches. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Inches. 
8 
10 
22 
30 
29 
39 
14 
19 
41 
54 
24 
33 
8" 
""o.'s" 
6*' 
12 
38 
48 
23 
64 
41 
14 
.5 
6 
14 
45 
56 
28 
74 
49 
23 
1.0 
7 
16 
52 
64 
32 
84 
54 
29 
1.5 
8 
-------- 
18 
58 
70 
35 
93 
62 
34 
2.0 
9 
20 
65 
76 
40 
101 
69 
40 
2.0 
9 
20 
22 
71 
82 
44 
108 
75 
45 
2.5 
9 
37 
24 
77 
86 
"'""68" 
48 
114 
81 
50 
3.0 
9 
43 
26 
83 
90 
73 
51 
122 
86 
55 
3.0 
9 
44 
28 
88 
93 
78 
55 
128 
91 
60 
3.5 
9 
07 
30 
94 
95 
82 
58 
133 
95 
64 
4.0 
10 
87 
32 
100 
97 
86 
61 
138 
99 
70 
4.0 
10 
96 
34 
105 
98 
90 
65 
143 
103 
74 
4.5 
10 
84 
36 
110 
100 
93 
68 
147 
107 
78 
4.5 
10 
104 
38 
114 
101 
96 
71 
151 
111 
82 
5.0 
10 
102 
40 
117 
102 
99 
74 
154 
114 
86 
5.0 
10 
63 
42 
120 
104 
101 
76 
158 
117 
90 
5.5 
10 
67 
44 
123 
106 
104 
79 
162 
120 
93 
5.5 
10 
76 
46 
124 
108 
105 
82 
165 
123 
96 
6.0 
10 
58 
48 
126 
110 
107 
85 
168 
125 
98 
6.0 
10 
34 
50 
127 
112 
109 
87 
171 
127 
101 
6.0 
10 
33 
52 
129 
110 
90 
174 
129 
104 
6.5 
10 
21 
54 
130 
92 
176 
131 
106 
6.5 
10 
8 
56 
58 
131 
132 
94 
97 
177 
179 
133 
134 
109 
111 
6.5 
6.5 
10 
11 
12 
8 
60 
133 
100 
180 
136 
114 
7.0 
11 
9 
62 
64 
102 
104 
181 
182 
137 
139 
116 
118 
7.0 
7.0 
11 
11 
2 
2 
66 
"*i90"' 
'"'285'" 
'"*29" 
107 
183 
141 
120 
7.5 
11 
1 
1 The difference between this figure and the total number of measurements given as a basis in the different 
ocalities is due to the inclusion of additional measurements from other localities in deriving the mean. 
LONGEVITY. 
Like most of the related species, incense cedar is a long-lived tree. 
A few records of very large trees have been obtained, and trees from 
300 to 500 years old are not unusual. The oldest observed was 542 
years old at the stump and measured approximately 51.2 inches in 
diameter at breastheight. It is probable, therefore, that where it is 
undisturbed it reaches an age of from 800 to 1,000 years. 
FORM. 
Incense cedar is characteristically short-bodied and rapid-tapering, 
a feature which is accentuated as the tree approaches maturity by a 
tendency to become buttressed and swell butted. This characteristic 
is further exaggerated by the extreme thickness of the bark on the 
lower portion of the bole, from 6 to 8 inches being not uncommon in 
old trees. The relative form of the bole at different ages is shown 
