=_The General Sherman Tree._=--The largest, and perhaps the oldest living thing. Discovered by James Wolverton, a hunter and trapper, on August 7, 1879, at which time he named the tree in honor of General Sherman, under whom he had served during the Civil War as a first lieutenant in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry. The age of the tree is unknown. It is estimated by those who have made a study of the subject as between 3,000 and 4,000 years. During this time it has withstood the ravages of countless fires, and, though greatly damaged, it has continued to flourish, and today produces thousands of cones bearing fertile seed from which many seedlings have been grown. The results of the fire damage are seen in the great wounds at the base of the tree. Through repeated fires the sap-pumping system has been damaged, and portions of the top have died; only 40 percent of live wood is in contact with the ground. The Sequoia, however, has such recuperative power that in time these fire scars will be completely healed. The dimensions of this tree are as follows: _Feet_ Height above mean base 272.4 Base circumference 101.6 Greatest base diameter 36.5 Mean base diameter 32.7 Diameter 60 feet above ground 17.5 Diameter 120 feet above ground 17.0 Height of largest branch 130.0 Diameter of largest branch 6.8 For years there have been rival claims by various localities for the honor of possessing the largest tree in the world. To settle these claims the California State Chamber of Commerce and Fresno County Chamber of Commerce conducted, in 1931, a tree-measuring expedition in Sequoia and General Grant National Parks and vicinity. [Illustration: GENERAL SHERMAN, THE KING OF THE SEQUOIAS] The result of the work of several engineers gave the following comparative volumes of the trunks of the four largest trees measured, exclusive of limbs: _Board feet_ General Sherman Tree 600,120 General Grant Tree 542,784 Boole Tree 496,728 Hart Tree 410,952 The General Sherman Tree was shown to contain 57,336 board feet more in volume than its nearest competitor and the King of the Sequoias retained his crown. =_The Chimney Trees._=--There are two well-known Chimney Trees, one being on the east side of Sherman Creek close to the trail from Sherman Tree to Alta Peak, which is now the best preserved. The other Chimney Tree is at the northeast end of Crescent Meadow and was badly burned several years ago through the carelessness of somebody who left a campfire burning. The Chimney Tree near Sherman Camp is a remarkable example of vitality, as it is thrusting out new branches despite the fact that its vitals are eaten away by fire.