The mountains of California . one extremity of the range tothe other; and however dense and somber they mayappear in general views, neither on the rockyheights nor down in the leafiest hollows Avill youfind anything to remind you of the dank, malarialselvas of the Amazon and Orinoco, with theirboundless contiguity of shade, the monotonousuniformity of the Deodar forests of the Himalaya,the Black Forest of Europe, or the dense dark woodsof Douglas Spruce where rolls the Oregon. Thegiant pines, and firs, and Sequoias hold their armsopen to the sunlight, rising above one another onthe mountain be
The mountains of California . one extremity of the range tothe other; and however dense and somber they mayappear in general views, neither on the rockyheights nor down in the leafiest hollows Avill youfind anything to remind you of the dank, malarialselvas of the Amazon and Orinoco, with theirboundless contiguity of shade, the monotonousuniformity of the Deodar forests of the Himalaya,the Black Forest of Europe, or the dense dark woodsof Douglas Spruce where rolls the Oregon. Thegiant pines, and firs, and Sequoias hold their armsopen to the sunlight, rising above one another onthe mountain benches, marshaled in glorious array,giving forth the utmost expression of grandeur andbeauty with inexhaustible variety and harmony. The inviting openness of the Sierra woods is oneof their most distinguishing characteristics. Thetrees of all the species stand more or less apart ingroves, or in small, irregular groups, enabling one tofind a way nearly everywhere, along sunny colon-nades and through openings that have a VIEW IN Tin; SIEKKA IOUEST. 142 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA park-like surface, strewn with brown needles andburs. Now you cross a wild garden, now a meadow,now a ferny, willowy stream; and ever and anonyou emerge from all the groves and flowers u^Donsome granite pavement or high, bare ridge com-manding superb views above the waving sea ofevergreens far and near. One would experience but little difficulty in ridingon horseback through the successive belts all theway up to the storm-beaten fringes of the icy deep canons, however, that extend from theaxis of the range, cut the belts more or less com-pletely into sections, and prevent the mounted trav-eler from tracing them lengthwise. This simple arrangement in zones and sectionsbrings the forest, as a whole, within the comprehen-sion of every observer. The different species areever found occupying the same relative positionsto one another, as controlled by soil, climate, andthe comparative vigor o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectcaliforniadescriptio
