Show Utah Proa Proud d of Grandest Fir Tree Tree I 0 0 o- o o o e y Giant ia Watches aches es Over Mt I I Utah is the tho home of the most magnificent fir tree ree in the world No other than the great ecologist Dr Dr Henry C C. Cowles gave ave that distinction distinction dis dis- to the state last July when with head based bared he gazed In awe and and admiration upon the giant fl fI fir which stands on the slope of of Mt bit the tree known to all who go there The March 1 Issue of the Literary Digest prints an article on this monarch of the tho forest under the I title of of The Worlds World's Most Magnificent Magni Fir In which Is set forth th fo th a aI I vivid and Impressive description of this tree t.-ee as written by bv Walter P P. Cottam in American Forests and Forest Life published at Washington Wash Wash- ington C Cottam's story follows This white fir reaches a height of ot feet Itis It Is 20 feet in circumference cIrcumference circumference circum cIrcum- ference at the tte base and 17 feet 8 Inches at east breast height It presents a mighty spectacle as It stands broken with age to greet geet the morning sun as it has done for forI more than five centuries The exact erect age of ot the tree is as yet undetermined undetermined mined but one of Its children which was removed that man might t better view slew the rugged old sire gave a ring count of yeas years with witha a diameter of only 16 inches There is a touch of pathos to this venerable old tree One Otie wonders pow how low long it t has stood there deprived de- de deI deprived de de- of the the association of the companions of its youth whose mute fallen fal- fal I Ilen mute trunks give and hollow len ten evidence of b. b race of giant giant firs that has now but a single re representative hiet off I think it is the old chief of this that still remains because forest it t has proved Itself the greatest safest tighter fighter r. r And what ugly scars does this old giant exhibit as ns still undaunted thousand ed ed- edhe g J he n proudly r adversaries I s battles battees lt s on The The with huge a 1 on his angle tells of f a fire not that scar day fought fiercely y but not The bald and shattered shattered shat shat- crown is the record ecord left by byone byone one o 0 or many ho bolts is of lightning g ng that struck hard T but ut n not littler little hard r branches enough to kill The Tho dr dry little branches which stick out like drawn swords from his massive sides aides speak possibly possibly possibly pos pos- sibly of the battjes with the deadly and the friendly aid boring beetles and rendered bY bythe the woodpeckers P sapsuckers that still diligently and methodically scour his trunk and branches tor lor the foe that may I hear be lurking there I listen and I hear this aged old warrior in the language assert over of and ove over aR aRthe a again aln the trees this firm resolution My ly I adversaries if It they be strong may shatter my crown or r h break my arms but never she shall shaH they Y bend my I upright position n while life lasts fasts |