Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-06-10
lNNKYENENnTNGs suMmrR

Running directly from the shiyering shores
Of New York City, and the chilly North, across
snow-covered valleys, and over the mountains,
there is a railway which links our nix-months
Winter with never-ending Summer. Snow
drifts one end, and roses at the otheIl Through
without change Of cars; with kitchens and bed
rooms attached The time less than a week,
and the fare less than $20Ol What glorious
news this Is for invalds! for those who are sickly
and enerVated from City confinement and over
heated roomsl 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 Aowerl Southern California
Is The only really tropical land our starry flag
hoats over, where one may enjoy all its privi-
lcges with none of its penalties. And It is such
glorious land Of wonderful trees and flowers!
As to the weather, no one could wish better,I it
was made to order. Umbrella makers do not
flourish in that land Of smiling skies.
The plaza Of the Southern California is very
extensive, and the well worthy Of study. Many
hints may be had from the flowers, for those who
have an artistic turn Of mind. Where else can
we get such revelations for designs in architec-
ture, for shades, color,.&c? The Egyptians took
the lotus and papyrus blossoms, copying them
in the ornaments Of the capitals of columns, the
shafts Of which were formed from the stocks Of
the papyrus bound together. In the same man
ner the Assyrians took the poppy, the Jews the
pomegranate blossoms, the Greeks the acanthus
leaf Perhaps the day will come when we shall
be as wise.
In California the camelia remains out Of doors
all Winter; the heliotrope is a stout shrub; the
gladolus is past its bloom in June, and is plant
ed in the Fall. The little sweet slyssum,
which in the North creeps on the ground, in
California rears its flower spikes two feet high
The scarlet geranium grows eight feet high,
making hedge of brilliant bloom almost hiding
the foliage. Roses bloom all the year round;he
oleander remains in the ground throughout the
Winter. Restaurants have their little tables sci
with flowers on them, and lunches of flowers
offered for sale in the steam-cars-a degree
of civilization not yet attained in the East.
February is a month Of flowers in California
somewhat as June Is in higher latitudes Al
that season of the year tho coast countries are
clothed in a lovely green OF peculiar tint, moi
seen elsewhere, caused by the a6lleria, or native
garss. 1t gives the pastures a light green, will
tinge Of yellow, and soft to the eye as a Turk
ish carpet, rejecting with a peculiar lovelines
the light of the sun. Growing quite high, i
still has a smooth, lawn-like appearance. Th'
wild mustard grows as high as a mans head il
this strange land when you face the mountain
you see their sides covered with yellow bloom
In May and June the whole Of the San JOs
Valley is covered with lovely flowers. Th'
OrCalifornia poppy, and the tender blue ant
white of the lupine, line the roads, covering
the fields in broad masses. The roses grow II
great masses, free from disease, Of a size AM
depth Of color unknown east of the Mississippi
Highly cultivated farms in the San Jose Val
ley grow the pOmegranate, the fig, the almond
and many Towering shrubs, which are stranger
to ", brought from Japan, China and Australia
There are a number of new varieties Of ever
greens. The Australian green is one Of these
and ia favorite tree in all parts Of California
In single season il has made growth of tif
teen feet. OF a blush green foliage, il contrast
finely with the lonely mountain cypress. Re
Gently doctors Of medicine have discovered tha
he leaf contains wonderful medicinal qualities
aud the various preparations are being intro
duced into allopathic practice. 1t ia suppose
to be coed for malarial fevers, disease Of tn
thrOat&c. The leaf is very resinous, burnin
like pitch pine knot.
In the Southern country, as at Los Angel;
Pnay be seen one Of the most beautiful object
in nature-orange orchards in iull hearing A
Santa Barbara there are groves of olive and al
mond. At the old mission, near San Diego
there are several date palms, and the oldest oliv
grove in the S'ate Fruit trees bear earle
than 10 the East the second year from plantin
the pit, the peach bears peck At five yeaI
the apple givesa crop. The curculiO is unknown
the cherry has no knots; no fruit is as yet dis
eased. In one orchard in California may
seen apple, peach, pear, cherry ounce. plum
nectorine, pomeSranate tig. orange, lemon, linn
almond, olive, English walnut, and apricot tree
Such are some Of the trees and flowers Of OF
land of never ending Summer.