HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 68 



attempts were made by us to obtain the variety, without, however, succeed- 

 ing in accomplishing our object. We were, therefore, highly gratified at the 

 unexpected receipt, through Mr. Vanderkemp, not only of the seed of the 

 California Raspberry, but also the dried berries of a variety from the island 

 of Sitka, high up on the Pacific coast, and upwards of nine hundred miles 

 north-west of the mouth of the Columbia river. 



In an interesting letter to one of the committee, Mr. Frazer gives us the 

 following information in regard to them :-«■" The dried Raspberries in the 

 package marked 'Sitka,' were brought from the Russian colony of that name 

 on the north-west coast of America, by my friend Mr, James C. Ward, of San 

 Francisco. He procured them while on a visit there this last summer, and 

 sent them to me with the hope that the plants might possibly be raised from 

 them. I know nothing of them except that they are the raspberry of the 

 place. The seeds in the other package are those of a large buff-colored 

 Raspberry, known in the country as the Salmon Berry. I found it growing 

 apparently wild, among nettles, at Bodega, a small seaport about fifty miles 

 north-west from San Francisco. Bodega is the port of a tract of country 

 which was (for a length of time previous to the taking possession of the coun- 

 try by the IT. S.) in the occupation of the Russians, who leased it for the 

 purpose of supplying their colonies with grain. • The Raspberries were found 

 on the shore of the harbor, under the projection of high cliffs, which shelter- 

 ed them from the north-west winds. As they were in the immediate vicinity 

 of the company's warehouses, it is very possible that they had been planted 

 there by the Russians, though I could not perceive any traces of cultivation. 

 They grow, if I recollect aright, on the talus of the cliffs, and so completely 

 mixed in with high nettles that I found it very difficult to procure them. The 

 plants were from five to six feet in height, and the berries of at least twice 

 the volume of the Antwerp, and between a buff and a salmon color, with a 

 very delicate flavor, which reminded me of that of our carnation cherries. — 

 An attempt was made by Gen. Persifer F. Smith to send the cuttings home, 

 but they died on the passage across the Isthmus of Panama. On speaking 

 on the subject to Mrs. Dr. Rhea Barton, she gave me directions for having 

 the seeds prepared, and requested that I would procure some for her. These 

 directions were forwarded to my friend, Mr. Ward, and a few days since I 

 received the packages which Mr. Vanderkemp placed in your hands. * * 

 In case of success, I ask for some of the plants for Mrs. Barton, Gen. Smith, 

 and Mr. Vanderkemp — the two former are absent from the city, and both de- 

 sired me to procure the seed for them." 



The berries from Sitka, though thoroughly dried, were quite large ; we 

 counted the seeds in two of them, and found sixty-eight in one, and seventy-' 

 two in the other. 



Tne library committee reported the name of one member delinquent for 

 fines. 



The committee of finance reported that having examined the treasurer's 

 statement, they found it correct, and that the investments were good and in- 

 terest punctually paid. 



A circular, addressed to the society by a committee of the Allegheny Co. 

 Agricultural Society, was read, desiring the co-operation of the society in 

 procuring the passage of an act by the legislature declaring the stealing of 

 growing fruit, vegetables, grain, &c, larceny. 



