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LETTER FROM OREGON. 



taste in the layiag out and arrangement of grounds — 

 better taste in the construction of buildings, having 

 in view not only comfort and utility, but beauty. 

 Not alone is this perceived in the suburbs and vicin- 

 ity of our large cities, but everywhere throughout the 

 country. We have in our mind at the present mo- 

 ment many places of exceeding beauty, executed in a 

 superior manner, and kept in the most perfect order, 

 well arranged, and producing, almost solely with 

 artificial means, the most beautiful effect. 



We know that good taste is increasing rapidly 

 among the American people, and with our fondness 

 for display, it will not be many years before we can 

 boast of more beautiful and pleasant private resi- 

 dences than any country in the world. 



LETTER FROM OREGON. 



Mr. Editor : — Tou will doubtless appreciate the 

 importance of the present communication, in point of 

 reciprocity, without one word from me on that poinl- 

 Though our interchange may be but small, yet we 

 both may derive a mutual advantage which will per- 

 haps far overbalance the small expense to us both. 

 I have numberless friends scattered throughout the 

 States, from whom I could well expect such favors, 

 and who doubtless would be glad of an apportunity 

 to do me a favor of this kind; but I know of no one 

 on whom I could rely so well as you, for I think that 

 your knowledge in the vegetable kingdom exceeds 

 that which I could reasonably expect from any other 

 quarter. I have long contemplated something of 

 this kind, but have neglected it so long that I now 

 have perhaps nothing that you will be interested in 

 except some raspberry seed. However, in answer to 

 this, you may suggest several things that I would 

 like to have. 



I am not sufficiently acquainted with this raspberry 

 to tell you wherein it differs from that cultivated 

 with you — your experience must teach that; but the 

 following are some of its peculiarities. The bush is 

 a strong grower, branching largely the first year. 

 The berries are large, and it bears abundantly. The 

 blossom is very small and feeble in appearance, and 

 a careless observer would not notice it when in full 

 bloom. Meek & Lewelling, and other nurserymen, 

 say that it is far better than any cultivated variety 

 they have. My bushes furnished fruit nearly two 

 months, and in my estimation it is more delicious 

 than any of the varieties grown in the States. My 

 plants are now two years old. They are planted on 

 clay soil, without manure, or extra cultivation, yet 



many of the canes have grown ten feet this year 

 During the first seven weeks, their growth averageo 

 about one foot per week. Their growth has long 

 been suspended, and they are well matured, strong, 

 aud erect. The color of the canes is generally green, 

 but some are very dark red. I can recommend them 

 to you as well worthy of trial. 



I also took pains to save some Service seed for 

 you, but I have mislaid them. They would doubt- 

 less be interesting to you, as the berries are large, 

 nearly black when ripe, and in taste about like those 

 in the States, but in the flower and time of flowering 

 and in the form of the clusters, they are totally differ- 

 ent. The bunches of flowers are in tassel-form 

 Neither the bunches nor the single flowers are so 

 wide spread or so showy as those in the States. 

 The flowers appear after the tree is 

 in leaf, which makes them late, and 

 places them out of all 

 danger of frost. I have 

 seen some of the ber- 

 ries, wild in the woods, 

 of the size and shape of 

 * '"' *' fig. 1. The clusters are 



like fig. 2. I have commenced culti- 

 vating them. 



I also saved some wild strawberry seed, of which 

 we have some fifty varieties. Indeed, this is the 

 greatest natural strawberiy nursery in the world. I 

 have gathered a bushel in two hours, some specimens 

 of which were an inch and one-fourth in diameter ; 

 but as they have such a strong propensity to form 

 runners, I will not send till I hear from you. 



Then there is the yew, or tew, of this country, a 

 fruit-bearing tree; but because of squirrels preying 

 upon them, it is almost impossible to get seed. This 

 fruit, in form and color, resembles a red 

 plum. It is about three-fourths of an 

 r\ N inch in diameter, and shaped like fig. 3. 

 V^., j At the aoex there is a small, uniform 

 cavity, which reaches to the stone, and 

 ^ '"' "' lays about half of it bare. The stone, 

 in size and appearance, resembles that of a cherry, 

 except that it is flatter. , 



We have also an ornamental tree, the red fir, 

 which can hardly be excelled; it is much handsomer 

 in form and foliage than the balsam fir. We have 

 too, ihe cedar, or red wood. 



We have a small fruit growing here, called savans. 

 It resembles the whortleberry, and is a more proUfic, 

 but inferior to it. 

 We have had excellent crops of wheat, oats, &c 



