THE DAFFODIL IN AUSTRALIA. By Mr. G. S. TITHERADGE BOOKS PRESENTED TO THE LIBRARY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. VOL. XXII. 1898. PART I. FRUIT GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. GEOGRAPHICALLY considered, California is one of the most favoured districts on the American continent. The Pacific Ocean washes its entire western shore. To the east lie several lesser ranges of mountains, backed up by the Rockies. The Oregon State line is a continuation of California northward, while to the south, genial and balmy Mexico abuts in such a friendly way that the traveller must needs inquire where one country ends and the other begins. Thus it is that, tempered by warm trade winds from the ocean, and lofty mountain ranges protecting us from the East-where the land is frozen in winter and scorched in summer-Nature has smiled upon us and placed every possible need of mankind within our reach The early history of California is so closely interwoven with romance and uncertainty as to be in a sense surrounded by mystery. The ruins of ancient Aztec architecture indicate a remote civilisation of which we know hardly anything, and while students have endeavoured to trace connections along our B western coast line from North-eastern Russia, across Behring Strait, their researches have not been satisfactory. On the other hand, ethnological evidences everywhere prevail in the south. Ruins, races, customs, civilisation, and religion all point to the habitation of California by the Spanish. It was not until April 11, 1769, that the first white settlers arrived and settled in San Diego, California. On July 16 of the same year some Franciscan friars, under Father Junipero Serra, founded a mission at that place. Between this date and 1823 no less than twenty-one missions were founded in various portions of the State, and with them came the first European civilisation. Events followed rapidly from this date. From a grazing, pastoral country, the discovery of gold, in 1847, led to immediate and unprecedented immigration, until in 1850, the State of California was formally admitted to the Union. Its rapid strides since that period are too well known to need mention here. Cities and towns abound; prosperity reigns; our future looks bright beyond compare. The county which deals more particularly with our subject is that of "Santa Clara," the county which has been termed the land of "Sunshine, Fruit, and Flowers." 66 Santa Clara is situated in one of the most delightfully attractive districts of the State. (Fig. 1.) An arm of San Francisco Bay and Alameda County bound it on the north; Stanislaus and Merced Counties on the east; San Benito County on the south-east; while to the south-west and west lie Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties. Just inland enough to soften any possible ocean winds that may prevail, being separated from the ocean by the Santa Cruz or coast range of mountains on the west, the north breeze from the bay renders the warmest days of summer unoppressive, the mercury rarely rising above 90 degrees, and hardly ever falling below 35 degrees, with a mean temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It contains in round numbers 1,000,000 acres of land, of which about 250,000 acres lie in the valley, some 300,000 acres in rolling hills and slopes, the remainder being mountains, some rough and wooded, some full of springs and running streams, and abounding in many kinds of game and mountain trout. Of our climate, temperature, soils, products, &c., full information will be found under their respective heads elsewhere. Suffice it here to state that we have room for a million people, but only want the best. Of our seasons it may be said we have but two, "wet" and "dry," though the terms are misleading and convey impressions foreign to the facts. The following "pen picture" of our procession of the seasons, written by the late Judge Belden, is so true and terse that I think I may be pardoned if I present it here entire. "Beginning with the month of October, the signs of a coming change are apparent. The winds, no longer constant from one quarter, become variable both as to direction and force, or wholly cease. Sudden blasts raise miniature whirlwinds of dust and leaves which troop over the fields, and the stillness of the night is broken by fitful gusts and the sudden wail of the trees, as the breath of the coming winter sweeps through them. These are the recognised precursors of the season's change, and are usually followed in the first ten days of October by an inch or more of rain, and this, usually, by weeks of the finest weather. The effect of these first rains is magical. The dust is washed from the foliage, and is laid on the roads and fields. The air has a fresh sparkle and life. The skies are of a deeper azure, and the soft brown hills seem nearer and fairer than before. It is the Indian summer of the East; but, instead of the soft lassitude of the dying year, here it comes with all the freshness and vigour of the new-born spring. If in this and the succeeding months there are further showers, the grass grows up on every hand, and the self-sown grain in all the fields. The hills change their sober russet for a lively green. Wild flowers appear in every sheltered nook. Hyacinths and crocuses bloom in the gardens, and the perfume of the violet is everywhere in the air. In the latter part of November the rainy season is fully established. A coming storm is now heralded by a strong, steady wind, blowing for a day or two from the south-east, usually followed by several days of rain, and these are succeeded by days or weeks without a cloud-and thus alternating between occasional storms and frequent sunshine is the weather from October to April-the rainy season in California. The amount of rain that falls varies materially with the locality. In San José it is from 15 in. to 20 in., while in places not ten miles distant twice that amount is recorded. During this period there are from thirty to forty days on which |