Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 18.djvu/316



280 Fred Wilbur Powell

of the Lambert pine may be inferred from the fact that I found near Santa Cruz an extensive forest, the full-g^own trees of which, at the height of twenty feet from the ground, in their diameter, would average from five to six feet. Their trunks nm up like the spars of a ship, without branches, to a prodigious height. The wood of this pine has the color of red cedar, as might be inferred from the Spanish name, (Colorado,) and the rift and softness of white pine. I ex- amined one of the trees which had been felled, and by its concentric laminae ascertained its age to be 510 years.

These majestic towers of evergreen continue as far north- ward as 40 degrees.

There are several kinds of oak. Of these, the most common is in California called white oak, (encina blanca,) rising to the average height of forty feet, its trunk measuring from six to eight feet in girth, with numerous branches, which g^ow together with such compactness as to furnish an im- penetrable retreat to those who seek concealment therein, and in perfect symmetry of form, like the rounded tops of an apple orchard ; these oaks present a very pleasing appearance to the eye.

The live oak (quercus virens) is likewise found in great abundance. [52] It is said to grow only on the highlands ; in this respect differing from the live oak of Florida. It has a diameter of three or four feet, and an altitude of sixty or seventy. For solidity, strength, and durability, judging from specimens in my possession, I deem it equal to any in the world. This invaluable timber extends northward beyond the 40th parallel.

But the most lordly species of oak here found is the white oak, {q. navalis.) It abounds on the river banks, and covers the low hills on the prairies. It not infrequently gives a diameter of five feet, measured at a height of ten or twelve feet above the ground, and its branches attain to corresponding dimensions, and extend a prodigious distance horizontally from the stem.