VIOLET. 



Have you ever visited San Jose ? If you have you know 

 much better than I can tell you of its beauties. No description 

 of a place can equal a visit. We may read of cities and beautiful 

 countries, and get some idea of them, but a visit is never forgot- 

 ten ; if pleasant, the memory remains through life. 



San Jose is situated in the heart of the lovely valley of Santa- 

 Clara. On the east are the Coast Range of mountains, and on the 

 west the Santa-Clara range. This charming place is called the 

 Garden City of California, and the New Haven of the Pacific. 



Its wealth of trees, flowers and shrubbery, and the multifari- 

 ous adornments of nature and art, make it one of the popular 

 cities of the Coast. 



Almond Rock is one of the points of interest, and the drive 

 there the finest in the place. It was on this drive I first saw the 

 violet, so called by the people of California, but so much resem- 

 bling the pansy of the east, it was difficult for me not to call it 

 by that pretty name given to its sister. 



These in my sketch were growing in a pasture in which cows 

 were feeding. With their bright-colored faces turned to the sun 

 they covered nearly half an acre of ground. I selected this 

 bunch, carefully removing the earth with them, much to the con- 

 sternation of the cows, who drew near with curiosity, wondering, 

 no doubt, why I was disturbing their pretty garden. 



It was in San Jose I saw such beautifully cultivated gardens. 



