396 



FIELD NOTES. 



copias, vines, pampas-plumes, evergreens, flags and 

 bunting were everywhere used in abundance. Many 

 windows were converted into flower-gardens, filled with 

 lilies, roses and other flowers. 



The day itself was all that could be desired for making 

 a success of the procession. All the forenoon State 

 street was one surging mass of pedestrians and carriages. 

 Hundreds of strangers were everywhere present, every 

 street-car was filled, and the busses and hacks did a 

 thriving business. All the people were bent on having a 



Floral Wheels of the Bicycle Club. 



thoroughly good time and on making the most of the day. 



It was nearly two o'clock when the procession began 

 to move. The first vehicle that followed the band of 

 music and the marshal with his aids was a grand floral 

 float twenty feet long and eight feet wide, drawn by four 

 large gray horses ridden by boys and led by four men 

 dressed in semi-oriental costumes. The float stood about 

 five feet from the ground and from the top downward 

 was draped with moss and calla-lilies. The top was 



painted and upholstered to resemble water upon which 

 floated five shell-like boats. The four smaller boats 

 were occupied by beautiful young girls. Each boat was 

 supplied with golden oars and silken sails. In the 

 larger and more beautiful boat sat the goddess Flora — 

 Senorita Carmelita Dibblee. Behind the goddess and 

 rising above her was a very handsome canopy of silk — 

 outside yellow, inside pale azure-blue with delicate fig- 

 ures of small roses. This was draped with tassels and 

 ropes of silk. The sails were of white satin. Ribbons of 

 satin passed from each boat to the 

 hands of the goddess. 



Of the many other vehicles which 

 entered into the pageant, there is not 

 space to give a description here. 

 Some of them are shown in the an- 

 nexed engravings, made from photo- 

 graphs. Suffice it to say that they 

 represented the application of much 

 taste and skill, while it was plain to 

 see that flowers without stint were 

 available for the occasion. One na- 

 tive flower of which all Californians 

 are proud — the eschscholtzia, was 

 used with lavish profusion, and roses 

 loading the air with fragrance, lilies, 

 callas, marguerites, smilax and wild 

 brodiaeas were among other kinds 

 freely employed. 



During the four days of the festival 

 a brilliant reception, a grand tour- 

 nament, and a ball were given ; also a competitive display 

 of flowers and fruits, for which numerous cash prizes 

 were given. 



No sooner was the floral fete-day over, than the par- 

 ticipants began to consider the good reasons apparent 

 for an annual perpetuation of the day in Santa Barbara. 

 It is to be hoped the example here set forth may be 

 widely heeded, and that such fete-days may be multi- 

 plied throughout our land. 



FIELD NOTES 



ABOUT PEAS, WEED 



harrowed our early peas with a little 

 one-horse harrow made A-shape, with 

 nine teeth and a spread of about 20 

 inches. With this tool we can get 

 close to the row, and by going over 

 it twice thoroughly, can stir the ground 

 and annihilate myriads of weeds. I 

 picked up a little chunk of the crust broken by the 

 harrow, and counted more than fifty vveedlets about 

 one-eighth of an inch high. Six days previous we went 

 over the ground with Breed's weeder, the peas not 

 being up. 



The peas were drilled in furrows, and the weeder lev- 

 eled the ground, scattering some loose dirt over the drills 



AND RASPBERRIES. 



without disturbing the seed. As it rained immediately, 

 continuing for four days, the little weeds took new cour- 

 age and seemed little injured by the proceeding, which 

 on a hot day would have killed them. The day after the 

 rain ceased there was a cold, brisk wind, which rapidly 

 dried the ground, and we harrowed as mentioned. When 

 the peas are about half an inch high we dare not use the 

 weeder again. 



We go through the peas twice with a harrow, and after 

 that with the Planet Jr. cultivator and seldom apply hand- 

 labor to the crop. The use of light, fine weed-killing tools 

 before and just after a crop comes up not only scotches the 

 weeds, but hurries the crop along considerably. Some 

 gardeners of my acquaintance do not start any kind of a 



