Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-03-28
n .vRy.En-E.vDx.vG SKINNER.


Running directly from the shivering
shores Of New York City, and the chilly
North, across snow covered valleys, and
over the mountains, there is railway
which links our six-months' Winter with
never ending Summer. Snow drifts at
one end, roses at the otherl Through with
out change of cars, with kitchens and bed
rooms attached The time less than a
week, and the fare less than 5000 What
glorious news this is for invaids for those
who are sickly and enervated from
city confinement and over-heated rooms
How much better than going to operas and
theatres it would be to dwell in q land of
soft airs, full of sweet sounds, breathing
the fragrance of flowers Southern Cali
fornia is the only really tropical land our
starry flag floats over, where one may en-
joy all of its privileges, with none of its
penalties. And it is such a glorious land
of wonderful trees and flowers! As TO the
weather no one could wish better, if it was
made to order. Umbrella makers do not
flourish in that land of smiling skies.
In California the camelia remains out of
doors all Winter; the heliotrope is a stout
shrub the gladiolus is past its bloom in
June, and is planted in the Fall. The lit
tie sweet alyssum, which here in the North
creeps on the ground, in California rears its
flower spikes two feet high. The scarlet
geranium grows eight feet high, making
a hedge Of brilliant bloom, almost hiding
the foliage. Roses bloom all the year round;
the oleander remains in the ground
throughout the Winter. Restaurants have
their little tables set with flowers on them,
and punches of flowers are often for sale in
the steam-cars-a degree of civilization not
yet attained in the East.
February is month of flowers in Cali
forna, somewhat as June is in the higher
ATTITUDES. At that season of the year the
coast counties are clothed in lovely green
of peculiar tint not seen elsewhere, caus-
ed by the alfilleria, or native grass. 1t
gives the pastures light green, with
tnge of yellow, rich and soft to the eye as
Turkish carpet, rejecting with peculiar
loneliness the light of the sun. Growing
quite high it still has lawn-like appear
ance. The wild mustard grows as high as
mans head in this strange land, and
when you face the mountains you see their
sides covered with yellow bloom. In May
and June the whole of the San Jose Valley
is covered with lovely flowers. The bril-
liant yellow and orange of the California
poppy, and the tender blue and white of
the lupne, line the roads, covering the
field in broad masses. The roses grow in
great masses, free from disease, of a size
and depth of color unknown East Of the
Mississippi.
Every body knows something about the
remarkable trees of California, especially
the big trees. OF these we shall say some
thing, for now -a-days the soft bark of the
big tree is universally used for pin-cush-
ions, and can be had for trifle. Besides,
one was planted in Central Park some
years ago. Tho best way to see the big
tree, which grows in a valley, is to go up
the nearest hill or mountain and look into
its branches. The redwood trees of Cali
fornia are large, ranging in growth next to
the big trees, with leaves resem milling
hemlock, and having general outline re-
sembling fir tree. In the vicinity, and
even on the top of the Santa Cruz Noun
tains, they are from ten to fifteen feet in
diameter, and from one 10 two hundred
feet high. On the summit of n mountain
an enterprising man has turned group of
these trees into hotel. He has his bed
chamber in the hollow of one; in another
is his restaurant and cooking place, while
other trees are used for the sleeping apart
e IT, x,.El MI, to
very beautiful and symmetrical tree,
bearing a fruit which answers as very
good substitute for the nutmeg of COM
merce. The oak groves excite admiration.
The California oak is low branching, far
spreading, disposed in irregular masses,
which give the landscape park-like effect.
This tree attains a height of several feet,
with a width of foliage of one hundred and
twenty feet.
Highly cultivated farms in the San Jose
Valley grow the pomegranate, the fig, the
almond, and many Towering shrubs which
are strangers TO us, brought from Japan,
China and Australia. There are a number
ofnew varieties of evergreens. The Aus
traian green is one of these, and is favor
lite tree in all parts of California. In sin
gle season it has made growth of fifteen
feet. Of blush green foliage, it contrasts
| finely with the lonely mountain cypress.
Recently doctors of medicine have dsccov-
cred that the leaf contains wonderful med
icinal qualities, and the various prepare
| tions are being introduced into allopathic
practice. 1t is supposed to be good for
malarial fevers, diseases of the throat, etc.
The leaf is very resinous, burning like a
pitch-pine knot.
In the Southern country, as at Los Ange-
| los, may be seen one of the most beautiful
objects in nature-orange orchards in full
bearing. At Santa Barbara there are
groves of olive and almond. At the old
mission near San Diego, there are several
date palms, and the oldest olive grove in
| the State. Fruit trees bear earlier than in
the East the second year from planting
the bit, the peach bears n peck. AT five
years the apple gives crop. The curculio
is unknown; the cherry has no knots F;
no fruit is as yet diseased. In one orchard
in California may be seen apple, peach,
pear, cherry, ounce, plum, nectarine, POM
egranate, fig, orange, lemon, lime, olive,
almond, English walnut, and apricot trees.
| Such are some of the trees and flowers of
our land of never-ending Summer.