STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61 



OOEKESPO^DEXCE. 



FEOM CALIFOEXIA. 



Sax Diego, Cal.. Dec. 4, 188G. 

 *S'. D. SiUman, Secretary, etc. 



Yours of eighteenth ult. came to hand a day or two 

 ago and contents noted. In reply will say I would like the 

 books you speak of, but can not very conveniently drop in and 

 get them at present. In regard to the books Prof. Winchell 

 wishes, I will say I have no objections; do as the rest of the 

 committee, yourself and President Elliot, wish, and I will be sat- 

 isfied. I have been here since November 23rd, and I 

 have been busy all the time. My wife says she can not hardly 

 get sight of me during the day. I have been looking after 

 ranches, orange groves, vineyards, lots, etc. ; there is a whole 

 army of real estate agents here, and they are so anxious to show 

 and sell property that I have lots of free rides and plenty of 

 chances to see and learn about the farms, ranches, vineyards and 

 city lots, and if you and President Elliot \^ish, I have no doubt 

 but that I could get donated for exhibition at the winter meet- 

 ing a tine box of fruits from this country, and if by chance I 

 should buy a fruit ranch, I would be glad to contribute my share. 



I have been here with AVm. E. Brimhall. AV. B. Quinn and 

 their wives five weeks to-day, and they say they have not seen 

 but one cloudy day since they came. Mr. and Mrs, Quinn have 

 no fire in their rooms. "We have a nice sunny room and fireplace 

 and have a fire nearly every morning and evening. There is 

 some fog earlj', but most of the time it is bright, pleasant sunshine 

 and has been from 50° to 80° in the shade; they have no frost 

 excej)t on low grounds and in valleys. I have talked of buying 

 two lots containing ten and thirty-seven one-hundredths acres, 

 all set in fruit and mostly in bearing. I shall know within two or 

 three days. There is the finest fig orchard I have seen; orange 

 trees loaded with fruit; lemons, limes, apricots, almonds, plums, 

 olives, grapes, English walnuts, apples, pears, etc. I should like 

 to take you through the place and show you. There are wind- 

 mills and steam engines for pumping, three or four wells and 



