534 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
which places it succeeds well, and is considered hardy, except 
at the last place where it is reported tender. 
Washingtonia gigantea. The Mammoth Tree. 
This truly most magnificent of all trees — deciduous or ever- 
Syn green — was discovered in a valley at the 
Weiiingtonia gigantea. source of one of the tributaries of the Cala- 
Sequoia gigantea. yeras, 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 circumference. 
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, when 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 Jiliformis), in its imbricated 
leaves, of a more delicate color than the arbor vitae, being of a 
pleasing light green, is, we are happy to say, promising to be 
hardy in the United States. 
