The San Francisco call., 1896-04-16

table led in beauty and variety. Roses,
carnations, and other popular blossoms,
were here seen in their utmost perfection;
but interest centered upon few rare and
curious flowers. A Solanum from India
was notable for its great leaves, shaped
precisely like those OF the white oak, but
bronzed underneath, its starry white
flowers. with peake golden pistil, clus-
tered about the heart of the plant.
traveller and a botanist remarked that
he saw here for the first time in this coun-
try the flowers of the Robinia Pseudo
Acacia, or pink locust, which originated in
Paris year or two ago, as we'll as the
Robinia Hispida, with blossoms of deep
lose and furry stems, which give it its dis
tinctive name. A choice shrub from Mex
leo, the Choisya Ternata, has blossoms
which, in aspect and perfume, bear
remarkable resemblance to the
orange, and the plant is now being
extensively grown in Paris as substitute
for the latter on account of its easy culti-
walton. small but vivid yellow flower
proved to be Barberry, a native of Terra
del Fuego which has borne transplanting
from that frigid land to Southern Califor-
MIA with wonderful equanimity, flourish
ing here as we'll as in its native soil.
Miss Blake's table had few rare plants
but displayed a wealth of common culti-
waited flowers grown to perfection. Her
pelargoniuns and carnations and roses
schoitzias, sprays of the cedar of Lebanan
and great Towering spike of the classical
acanthus were the unique features.
Mrs. Neal of Montecito exhibited large
variety of garden flowers of great perfec-
tion and beauty-carnations, roses, hello
trope, double petunias, pelargoniums
gaillardias, calliopsys and an exquisite
wild flower from Santa Cruz Island
Erigerium maritium, marigold, scented
with whirl of golden stamens and fine
aster petals of lilac tint.
Mrs. Neal is known as one of the most
successful growers in this vicinity, and a
couple of specimens of John Sievers
famous rainbow rose, exhibited by her
to-day. far surpassed any that have ever
been seen at San Francisco floral shows.
Joseph J. Perkins, a prominent citizen
of Santa Barbara, offered charming ex-
hibit from his own garden, including some
fine navel oranges, which took the first
prize. The Misses Tierney and Mrs.
Charles Woodbridge had collections of
roses of exquisite form and coloring, and
Mrs. Sexton presented an interesting dis
play of wild flowers from Ventura County.
John Spence had large display of su-
perb flowers and plants occupying the
center stand. Professor T. n. Snow dis
played many fine roses, not named, and
remarkably pretty collection of cinerarias.
A small exhibit of fruit added variety to
the programme.
Although this is the poorest season of
the year for fruit considerable variety
was shown.
The Messrs. Shepard Bros. of Mountain
View ranch, Casitas Pass, made veritable
sensation with specimen strawberries of
the scarlet chief-enormous, bright red
berries. J. E. Shepard exhibited Eureka
lemons in all stages, from the tree to the
final curing. A single specimen measured
13 inches by Az inches in circumference.
f. J. Barker had golden dates and some
tremendous citrons of commerce. Joseph
Sexton exhibited Amona Cherimoias or
custard apples. William Ferl showed some
fine lines and bananas from his pictur-
esque plantation in Montecito. I. 3. Pierce
exhibited sweet-rind lemons and the
Misses Tierney showed fine specimens of
this fruit, as we'll as some superb speci-
mems of grape fruit.
G. B. Parma brought from his Monte
cito ranch of Villa Franc great navel
oranges, Mediterranean sweets, st. Mich
aels, Eureka lemons and loquats. Follow
ing is complete list of all exhibitors:
John Spence, William Ferl, Mrs. Sexton, /. G.
Yates, DR.. Franceschi, Miss jennings Mrs
Charles Woodbridge. Misses Sproul and Yates,
Shepard Brothers, Mrs. DR.. Hall, Mrs A. A.
Nicholson. Miss Hazard, I. B.. Pierce, G. w. Gil
lespie, MIR. Johnson, Mrs. Wade, Mrs Neal, Mrs.