132 TKANSACTIONS OF THE 



watered from an artificial rivulet made with hydraulic mortar, with bridges 

 over it, kiosks near, elegant shells; in it, and its hanks full of flowers. 

 Magnificent flowers of many new sorts filled the palace. Cherry, fig, rasp- 

 berry, prune, and strawberry, loaded with their hof house fruit y beautiful 

 turf plats, with noble rhododendrums of bright red, attracted admiration; 

 apple and prune trees grown in palm shape ; iron garden vases, baskets, 

 seats, settees, fountains playing, &c., &c. ; an immense catalogue of plants ; 

 a palace full, and of admiring people. 



The California Culturist, San Francisco, June 15th, 1858, speaks of a 

 Chili strawberry growing there 7 inches in circumference, cherries 3 inches 

 do ; native blackberries ripe on the 15th of May, not larger or better than 

 those east of the rocky mountains, and not comparable with " the Lawton 

 blackberry, which, (says the Californian,) should be possessed by every 

 owner of a garden. It is a berry of extraordinary size, an abundant 

 bearer, and of peculiar excellence. 



Thos. W. Field. — It must be very extraordinary if it is. Mr. Burgess, 

 at East New York, has a simple plant that has now 1,840 berries upon it. 

 I have counted the berries in a quart several times, and found from 120 to 

 140 berries. This would make about fifteen quarts of fruit upon a single 

 bush. 



We have fine watermelons from the Sandwich Islands, and at a fine 

 price too, $1.50 and $2.00 a piece. Raspberries in market on the 24th of 

 May, and plump green corn, also. A new variety of barley, Adrian's, on 

 the river Yuba. The head of thi.s barley is like an ear of corn in figure, 

 its centre when shelled resembling the corn cob. There are on it six rows 

 of large kernels, each protected by a long outstanding beard, giving the 

 head a most beautiful appearance. It grows uniform in height and size. 

 One root had 32 heads, containing 2,200 kernels. From these Adrian 

 planted and has now of that sort 80 acres, presenting a most interesting 

 appearance. 



The Culturist advises showering strawberry beds. Turnips of 20 pounds 

 were exhibited. Ten millions of acres of California excellent for grapes, 

 among them the gold placers. They are producing apples, Gloria Mundi, 26 

 ounce, Esopus Spitzenberg, Northern Spy, Swaar, Pippin, Scarlet Sibe- 

 rian, Crab, Maiden's Blush, Rhode Island Greening, and others, all large 

 fruit tempared with their originals. 



[The Journal of Agriculture and the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultui-al Society 

 of Scotland. Edinburgh, Jul}', 1858.] 



Extracts by H. Meigs. 

 THE TURNIP. 



Late observations on the diseases affecting this important tuber, led to 

 apprehension that it may fail like our potato. All the fertilizers applied 

 to this crop have been considered as to tlieir possible influence on its 

 health, still the opinion gains ground that the turnip is tending to 

 degeneracy. Such a state of things will be extremely injurious to Great 



