irst, these noble trees seem to be singularly free from disease or
from decay due to old age. All the trees that have been cut down are
solid to the heart, and none of the standing trees show any
indications of natural decay. The only apparent cause for their
overthrow is the wind, and by noting the direction of a large number
of fallen trees it is found that the great majority of them lie more
or less towards the south. This is not the direction of the prevalent
winds, but many of the tallest trees lean towards the south, owing to
the increased growth of their topmost branches towards the sun. They
are then acted upon by violent gales, which loosen their roots, and
whatever the direction of the wind that finally overthrows them, they
fall in the direction of the over-balancing top weight. The young
trees grow spiry and perfectly upright, but as soon as they overtop
the surrounding trees and get the full influence of the sun and wind,
the highest branches grow out laterally, killing those beneath their
shade, and thus a dome-shaped top is produced. Taking into
consideration the health and vigor of the largest trees, it seems
probable that, under favorable conditions of shelter from violent
winds, and from a number of trees around them of nearly equal height,
big trees might be produced far surpassing in height and bulk any that
have yet been discovered. It is to be hoped that if any such are found
to exist in the extensive groves of these trees to the south of those
which are alone accessible to tourists, the Californian Government
will take steps to reserve a considerable tract containing them, for
the instruction and delight of future generations.

The scarcity of young Sequoias strikes every visitor, the fact being
that they are only to be found in certain favored spots. These are,
either where the loose debris of leaves and branches which covers the
ground has been cleared away by fire, or on the spots where trees have
been uprooted. Here the young trees grow in abundance, and serve to
replace those that fall. The explanation of this is, that during the
long summer drought the loose surface debris is so dried up that the
roots of the seedling Sequoias perish before they can penetrate the
earth beneath. They require to germinate on the soil itself, and this
they are enabled to do when the earth is turned up by the fall of a
tree, or where a fire has cleared off the debris. They also flourish
under the shade of the hu