There are but very few young Sequoias to be seen in any of the groves. This is not the fault of the seeds. The surface of the ground in the groves is so deeply covered with the dry fallen matter from the trees, and dead vegetation, that the seeds in falling very seldom come in contact with the bare ground; but where a tree has been recently uprooted, or where fire has burned away the dry covering, the young trees spring up as thick as grain in a field, and only need proper protection for some of them to continue to grow.

Groves of young Sequoia trees can readily be started anywhere on suitable moist ground in the forests of California, at an elevation of less than 7,000 feet above sea level, by burning off the dry rubbish covering the ground and planting good seed.

There is a large amount of worthless Big Tree seed in the market. To test the seeds when buying, break some of them crosswise. If the vital germ in the center is white, the seed is good; if brown, it is worthless.