National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-24
THE HORTICULTURISTS.
Annual Meeting Of the Flower Growers If the
District
Interesting Address OF MIR. Brown or H. Q
Resources OF Washington Territory.

| The annual meeting of the District of CO.
lumbia horticultural society was held last
night at Germania hall. After the transac.
ton of routine business, graceful compli-
mant was paid TO Mr.. John Saul by his cleo
tion as president of the society. The other
officers wero also reelected for tho ensuing
year. Mr.. Saul made short address in
which no thanked tho members for their
courtesyi and referred to Washington as tho
city Of gardens. "Our wide streets in sum-
mer," he said, care ablaze with sweet
scented flowers. We arc in tho center Of tho
best fruit area In America. This is n perfect
paradise for pears, apples, and the smaller
fruit"
Col. Curtis favored having music at the
| floral exhibitions of the association. "Music
and flowers" no said, ARE sisters European
| florists have taken flowers representing every
known color and shade and formed the COM
bination into blending flats and sharps. This
they have set to music, forming pretty floral
| tunes"
DIR. Basil Norris, U. s. A., thought horti-
culture ought to BIO encouraged in this beau
| tiful city. "Onc reason that people do not
raise flowers more generally" he said, sis
because the yard and park gardens are not
protected from thieves and depredators"
| He rccited several instances that had come
under his notice.
Mr.. John A. Brown, OF the agricultural
department. delivered IN interesting address.
| Referring TO the beauties of Washington, tho
speakers said that there is peculiar salts
faction in exploring new fields Of nature; III
gathering from new and, If possible, unex-
plored sources; upon seeking more light upon
subjects little known; in looking forward
with hope for something unexpected and an
ticipating some rare beauty, yet little dream
ing what the reality may be. 1t was this
feeling that prompted Capt Gray to sail up
the coast Of North America and take peep
into the beautiful river which he named
Columbia.
When the speaker visited Washing tou ter.
ritory last April he found u mild and equable
climate, with roses in profusion In every city
yard. The winter winds being from south
erly directions como laden with warm vapors
from the Japan current, making a pleasant
and temperate climate in u country that 9TH
erwise would be totally uninhabitable Thus
q kind providence gives this northern land,
100 north of Washington, an average winter
temperature of $50. The heavy work of log
ging is mostly done in summer, while the
gardens on Christmas day bloom with roses
and an assortment of flowers
The lecturer then described the great in
land sea called Puget sound. 1t is the largest,
deepest, safest, and best Of the Pacific har-
bors. 1t is divided into innumerable channels
passes, coves, bays, and barbors by grand
archipelagoes, peninsulas, and various in
donations of the shore. IL is in places 100
fathoms deep. 1t has 1890 miles Of Shore
yet SO narrow that both shores may be seen
at all times. 1t is grand in forest and noun
tain scenery, the snow-clsd peaks Of the
Olympic mass of mountains upon the west
seeming but dozen miles away, yet in reality
sixty or more. Far above the ow-hanging
clouds of mist are the irregular peaks of the
far-distant Cascade range, with Mount Baker
and Mount Rainier ever in view, ono IL 600
feet and the other 14,440 feet-landmarks
that guide the mariner at sea
and interest the traveller by land;
while the thousand beautiful islands, oil
differing in appearance-rou9h, ragged,
rocky, bold precipices, or some high-toweriug
hills approaching mountains in others; while
some are low lying, fiat, sandy, or alluvial
tracts, covered with grass, pastured by locks
of sheep and herds Of cattle. Some are dense
with forest growths, and few are prairies
No such body of water exists elsewhere on
the globe, and none of greater Importance to
future commerce. 1t is destined to connect
the great railway systems OF America with
ocean navigation on tho Pacific. 1t must be-
come the rendezvous of the whaling and
fishing fleets Of the northwest Its lumber
interests are prominently in advance of all
numbering ports of the United States. The
mineral wealth of the surrounding country is
inexhaustible.
The vicinity of Mt. Rainier is characterized
by mountain spurs and canyons. Upon the
bluff near the coal mines of Carbonate 400
feet above the river. and on the top of an
almost perpendicular WALL mighty cedar
had fallen which enabled the lecturer to get
superb view Of the country. A little water
fall leaps by succession of cascades, from
twenty to sixty feet each, to the river below,
while at the foot is seen the beautiful stream
rapidly whirling along over the rocks, its
waters clear as crystal, except when white
with foam from pouring over the masses of
rock that have fallen from the rocky sides of
the canyon. The gorge. the winding river,
and the tall evergreens form picture worthy
of Bierstadt And this is but one of countless
beautiful views in the territory.
The lecturer described the tall trees graph
ically. Cedars reach from 200 to 250 feet
high and from s to ~ feet in diameter; frs
are magnificent, with 100 feet of height to the
first limb and from 10 to "a feet in circum-
ference. Not a poisonous reptile or plant is
said to exist west OF the Cascade mountains.
The cssayist described the wealth of flowers
in the territory. There are no vines, prop
erly speaking; no wild grape, ivy, ampelop.
sus, or other plant with tendencies for attach
ing itself TO trees. Roses are In profusion.
The magnificent rhododendron fourishes in
wanton luxurisnce; and there are in ex-
haustless plenty ferns and MOSES exceeding
In beauty any that are found in the tropics.
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