Fruit Farming for Profit in California, 47 



we have just driven througli, tlie view is cliarming. 

 At our feet is a cornfield, whose stalks are rustling in 

 tlie gentle breezes ; a little further on, and the orchard, 

 whose trees are still clothed in their leafy dress of 

 green, stretches away for a half mile northward ; the 

 farm-houses, embowered in a grove of trees, and 

 surrounded by beau.tiful gardens, invite to rest the 

 tired traveller ; and a little further on can be seen the 

 railroad track, the steel rails glistening in the sunlight, 

 and marking out the pathway over which the iron 

 horse speeds, uniting in bonds of friendship, communi- 

 cation, and commerce neighbouring towns, cities, and 

 states. Near by is the pretty little church with its 

 spire pointing heavenward, and showing that in this 

 land of beauty, where God has done so much. His great 

 goodness is not forgotten, but, on the contrary, that 

 His praises are sung and His goodness glorified in this 

 little house erected to His service. In the distance 

 towers the grand old mountains, in whose canyons the 

 wild deer frolic in their native ranges— and all in all 

 the view is grand and beautiful. 



We drive on through a large grain-field, and pause 

 for a moment under a giant sycamore tree, and in front 

 of an ice cold spring that, could it speak, would tell 

 a tale of great interest. It would tell us how the now 

 deserted^ almost forgotten, little wooden box wdiich is 

 sunk in the earth, and which holds its now black and 

 muddy waters, was placed there many years ago by the 

 early residents of this country. It could tell with 

 what pleasure the weary traveller hailed the sight of 

 the old sycamore trees, for under their grateful shade 

 they knew they could rest, and quench their thirst with 



