National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-14
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
BEAUTIES OF THE CLIMATE-vEGETl
TON, TREES, VINES. HOT SPRINGS. &c

L
BEAUTIES OF THE CLIMATE-vEGETA
TON, TREES, VINES, HOT SPRINGS, &C.
A tourist writes to the Alta California from
Santa Barbara of this paradisical region as
follows: On the passage the Resolution was
bound to stop at Santa Barbara for a few days
and resume our tour at leisure Although
early morning when we arrived, hotel accom-
modation, though scarce-was found at the
Morris House, which, while comparatively q
new house, takes rank among the best in the
land, and at which we would advise the travel
ing public to stop.
The genial and affable clerk, Mr.. Swift, is
ever ready and willing to make room and COM
Portable quarters where, apparently, even with
the wisdom of Solomon, one would barely be
able to find an abiding place. On the morning
of arrival, and while scarcely recovered from
the effects Of the journey, we not only begin to
note the objects of interest to every stranger,
but find among the guests many Eastern peO-
PIE, among them a number of friends and ac-
quaintances, all, or nearly all of whom are
here for the purpose Of recruiting an exhausted
vitality. Every one that we meet, in eulo-
CYSTIC terms, speaks of the climate rs delight
full.
Here It is, while driving through the various
sections of the town, that one has the oppor-
tunity to study the science of dendrology to his
hearts content. Aside from the thousand and
one varieties of trees noted, we will here speak
of but two or three; these being comparatively
new to an Eastern resident. The first of these
Is the pepper, and the second the Eucalyptus,
or, as 1t is here called, the Australian gum
tree. The former-although we may be mis-
taken-seems to be indigenous, judging by
their growth and characterize features, as am
assured, such is their rapid growth and in SO
short time will they become useful.
OF all the outrageous and graceful foliage,
and 80 peculiarly Californian is it, we know of
none that with 1t will compare-always go
beautifully green and glossy-with the pepper
tree; go charmingly symmetricalinit its branches,
extending so proportionately and equally on all
sides that its beautiful dependent foliage re-
minds one Of the old-time weeping willow-tree,
so symbolic and so often found in Sleepy Hol-
low, Greenwood, Woodlawn and Mount Auburn
cemeteries of the East.
Another recommendation for this beautiful
tree is its cleanliness, dropping, as It does,
neither stems nor leaves, and always keeping
free from vermin, insects or anything of like
ilk. This excellent, as well as remarkable,
feature is said to be caused by the aromatic
odor that eyudes from, and always pervades,
these beautiful trees. Its ability to derive sus-
tenances from q comparatively dry soil, is an
other thing to commend it to the notice of the
dendrologist, so very little moisture does It re-
quire to sustain life.
OTHER TREES.
The other species, spoken of above-the
Eucalyptus, or Australian gum trees-seems
to be less understood; nevertheless, the vast
number of them going into the ground, not
only along the street, but in gaedens and other
private enclosures, attest sufficiently the fact
that enough is known of them to warrant
preference to all other varieties. Its virtues
as a fever destroyer and absorber Of malaria
seem to be growing moro extensively known.
So astonishingly rapid is its growth, am con-
idently assured, that many of these trees only
four years of age, are known to be over foot
in diameter and some fifty feet in height.
This may not seem so extraordinary fact to
Californian, but it certainly is to yankee"
For durability, toughness, and texture, this
wood is said to rival and resemble hickory,
while for heating purposes, it takes rank
scarcely inferior to coal. These trees attain an
immense size, and have large, leathery leaves,
which contain volatile, or vaporing oil, in no in
considerable quantity. Truly, with the En-
ealvptns, pepper, redwood, and gigantic Sc
quoms-the latter only are inhabitant of the
western slope of the Sierra Nevada, between
latitude $40 and 41o-California can well chal-
lenge the world, while to an inhabitant OF
city in the slow-go;ng East these things seem
truly marvellous.
THE OLD MISSION.
During our pleasant sojourn in Santa Bar
bara, we were invited by a friend to visit the
Old Mission, and from thence to the b2unse-
Gus production of nature, the "Big Grape Vine,"
as it is called by every one in this vicinity. A
description Of the services at the Old Mission
would, doubtless, be of little interest to your
numerous readers, so familiar are many of
them to the old Spanish customs, but to your
correspondent it was indeed delightful treat.
The huge vine spoken of above, and which
was so kindly invited to inspect, is situated in
the section known as Monticello, about three
miles from the town Cor city it processes to be-
on the road to what viii, undoubtedly, in the
future become more extensively known as the
remarkable Hot Springs of Santa Barbara.
Although the vine, so highly spoken of and
eulogized, did not come fully up to the ex-
bectatiors we had realized from the marvellous
stories so ofen told the temporary sojourner,
yet enough was learned of its romantic history
(Planted as it was before the year 1900, and
under such peculiar cfcufhaanc93, By the
senorita Dominguez, when but simple shoot,
in face riding whip presented BY her lover,)
to induce the belief that 1t has but one known
rival on this continent.
This vine has now assumed the immense
proportions of foot In diameter at the base,
and its extensive branches require something
like sixty trellises to support them. 1t is in
closed by high board fence, and under fits
spreading branches has been built fine dane
ing floor, around the edges of which are rudely-
constructed seats. Upon this floor the Spanish
fandango is INDUCED In, while upon the
benches, during the summer nights, are con-
gregsted the senors and senoritas, intent upon
q rehearsal Of their sweet love songs, SO pecu-
liarly their own. The entrance to the enclosure
containing this vinous monstrosity is through
a low-roofed dwelling, so peculiarly Spanish in
It's COnSLTuCLlOu, lnSlue LnlS Is u UaT pleuLllully
stocked with liquors, which, with the two bits
entrance fee and the quite extensive bar patron
age the dona receives, enables the aged lady to
live in comparative affluence.
THE IMMENSE PRODUCT OF THIS VINE
We have not heretofore alluded to, so very i'm
probabable does it seem that one vine should
give in weight the enormous amount of over
Il, 900 pounds in one year. Alongside of this,
but in separate enclosure, is another vine of
some twelve years growth, which is said to
be fast riyalling the parent stem, both in size
and prolihcness. 1t being at late hour in the
afternoon when we left the domicile of the aged
Dona, our visit to the Hot Springs was neces-
sarily postponed until some future day.
Returning from the Montecito, we notice
upon a beautiful elevation, some distance to
the left, small, very small, eemetery-per-
haps Score q t6mbst6nss may Sc seen within
the enclosure-and we inquire to what society
it belongs, naturally supposingit is the exclusive
property of some Masonic, Odd-Fellows, or,
other organization; In this we are mistaken,