The mountains of California . end the range many times withoutmeeting it. While exploring the lower portion of the MercedCanon I found a lonely miner seeking his fortunein a quartz vein on a wild mountain-side plantedwith this singular tree. He told me that he calledit the Hickory Pine, because of the whiteness andtoughness of the wood. It is so little known, how-ever, that it can hardly be said to have a commonname. Most mountaineers refer to it as that queerlittle pine-tree covered all over with burs. In mystudies of this species I found a very interesting andsignificant group of facts, whos
The mountains of California . end the range many times withoutmeeting it. While exploring the lower portion of the MercedCanon I found a lonely miner seeking his fortunein a quartz vein on a wild mountain-side plantedwith this singular tree. He told me that he calledit the Hickory Pine, because of the whiteness andtoughness of the wood. It is so little known, how-ever, that it can hardly be said to have a commonname. Most mountaineers refer to it as that queerlittle pine-tree covered all over with burs. In mystudies of this species I found a very interesting andsignificant group of facts, whose relations will beseen almost as soon as stated: 1st. All the trees in the groves I examined, how-ever unequal in size, are of the same age. THE FORESTS 151 2d. Those groves are all planted on dry hillsidescovered with chaparral, aud therefore are liable tobe swept by fire. 3d. There are no seedlings or sai)lings in or aboutthe living groves, but there is always a fine, hopefulcrop springing up on the ground once occupied by. WCi-^*r*---*^.^S^ LOWLK MARGIN OF THK MAIN IINK UKLT, SHOWING OPENCHARACTER OP WOODS. any giove that has been destroyed by the burningof tlis lie oul of placehere, but 1 may at least call attention to the ad-mirable a<laptation r tlie tier to the (ire-sw(i»t r(»- 152 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFOENIA gions where alone it is found. After a grove hasbeen destroyed, the ground is at once sown lavishlywith all the seeds ripened during its whole life,which seem to have been carefully held in store withreference to such a calamity. Then a young groveimmediately springs up, giving beauty for ashes. SUGAK PINE {Pinus LaDibertiana) This is the noblest pine yet discovered, surpass-ing all others not merely in size but also in kinglybeauty and majesty. It towers sublimely
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectcaliforniadescriptio
