Chapter I: Preface

That imposing calm which the great Sequoia of the Sierra Nevada exerts over many came to be individually impressed upon the author during a summer’s residence in the Mariposa Grove two years ago. Indeed, it was the persistence of this spell that made him wish to know more about this noble tree and caused him to inquire into its literary and scientific associations. These studies at length stimulated another desire—that of making the gist of the scattered and heterogeneous mass of material, ranging from popular rhapsodies to scientific treatises, available and accessible to all.

It was likewise the author’s ambition to effect a symmetrical presentation if possible of both the popular and the scientific aspects of the subject. Hence, the rhapsodies have been robbed of their purple and the treatises have been faintly touched with imagination to make them possess an interest for the general reader. By this it must not be presumed that gravity and fidelity have been neglected. They have been preserved throughout.

This book has been written primarily for the good of the greatest number. It is not by a botanist for botanists, but by a tree-lover for tree-lovers. And if from its pages there emanates, however faintly, something of the inspiring and enobling presence of the Giant Sequoia, the author will not have dusted off many an old volume and entertained himself with an examination of its contents in vain.

The author is greatly indebted to Miss Cristel Hastings for her untiring aid in the preparation of the manuscript. He also wishes to extend gratitude to Mr. William T. Amis, who has rendered much invaluable assistance and counsel. Hearty thanks are due various Professors of the University of California from whom the author as a student and friend has received many helpful criticisms and suggestions.

+Rodney Sydes Ellsworth.+

Berkeley, California,
April 17, 1924.

CONTENTS

+Part One+

SEQUOIAS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY

I—+The Auld Lang Syne of Trees+ 13

II—+The Glory of the Mountains of California+ 23

+Part Two+

GIANT SEQUOIAS OF THE MARIPOSA GROVE

III—+Galen Clark+ 35

IV—+Wonder Trees+ 59

V—+Oldest of Living Things+ 89

VI—+The Eternal Tree+ 102

VII—+A Blossom of Decadence+ 115

+Part Three+

NAMING OF THE SEQUOIA

VIII—+A Name for the Ages+ 127

IX—+Sequoyah+ 134

+Bibliography+ 159

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The Sun Worshippers Frontispiece

In the Court of the Giants 24

Galen Clark 40

Galen Clark Tree 48

The Cabin 64

Telescope Tree 72

Wawona Tree 80

Fallen Monarch 96

Grizzly Giant 104

Alabama Tree 120

Sequoyah 136

The Invincible Sequoia 144