Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1914 — WHY THE BIG TREES ARE BIG. [ARTICLE]

WHY THE BIG TREES ARE BIG.

Heavy Rainfall Gives Quick Germlna- '■ tion and Steady Growth. The magnificent forests of Douglas fir in Washington—it is called Washington fir there and Oregon fir (ita commercial name) In Oregon—do not have an equal anywhere else in the world. Thia la not surprising if we take Into account the rainfall, which in the Puget Bound country is about fifty-three inches, while up in the higher Cascades near Beattie It Is 100 inches and even reaches 150 Inches. Under such climatic conditions the seeds of trees germinate readily and all trees continue to make a vigorous growth. These * great forests, says Horticulture, are due to the climatic conditions of the region. On. the east slope of the Cascades the rainfall Is much less, and here the bull pine is found, interspersed with beautiful white pines, which sometimes reaches a height of 200 feet and a diameter of 6 feet, although thqre are many trees over 100 feet high and 3 or 4 feet in diameter. The trfee resembles our Eastern white pine, but is more slender and with slender spreading or . somewhat drooping branches.