SPRING IN CALIFORNIA. 



389 



bark. It evidently occurs from New York to Illinois, 

 and south to Delaware. I have observed it to be a 

 common tree in some places. The pig-nut has a 

 wider range, growing from Maine to Minnesota, and 

 southward to Florida and Texas. The true shag- 

 bark has much the same range as the pig-nut. All 

 three species grow in sight from my window. 



A singular confirmation of the specific distinct- 

 ness of the false and true shag-barks is found in 

 the behavior of a certain disease or injury which 

 attacks one species and not the other. This is a 

 swelling which very closely resembles the plum- 

 knot, and which attacks the young branches of the 

 shag-bark. A few steps from my door is a shag- 

 bark which is badly infested, while two false shag- 

 barks whose branches touch or interlock with the 

 other are not injured. If this distortion of the 

 branches of the shag-bark sliould become common, 

 it would interfere seriously with the use of the tree 

 for ornamental purposes.* 



The botanical names of the hickories have re- 

 cently undergone a complete metamorphosis. The 

 genus carya by which these trees are commonly 

 known, was founded by Thomas Nuttall in 1818. 



* Recent examination shows that this distortion is due to the 

 work of an insect. — Ed. 



But it now transpires that Rafinesque in 1808, and 

 again in 1817, proposed the name hicoria, a Lat- 

 inized form of the aboriginal name. As Rafinesque's 

 name is clearly the older, it must supplant carya. 

 Professor Britton has recently arranged the species 

 under hicoria, and although he has made some 

 unnecessary and unfortunate changes in the specific 

 or '-given" names, they must be adopted. The 

 shag-bark is now called Hicoria oi'ata (formerly 

 Ca>ya alba), and the pig-nut is Hicoria glabra (for- 

 merly Carya porciiia). The mocker-nut (formerly 

 Carya toiucntosa) becomes Hicoria alba. The spe- 

 cific name of the false shag-bark, microcarpa, means 

 "small-fruited,"" and it was evidently given to re- 

 cord a distinguishing mark between this species and 

 the shag-bark. But while the nuts of the shag-bark 

 are usually larger, they are very variable, and often 

 as small as those of the small-fruited species. 



The common names of the species need correc- 

 tion and limitation. All the hicorias are properly 

 hickories, but in many parts of the east they are 

 called "walnuts," the shag-bark being known as 

 "white walnut." These names are misnomers, for 

 the term walnut properly belongs to the genus jug- 

 lans, which includes the black walnut and butter- 

 nut. L. H. B. 



SPRING IN CALIFORNIA. 



■' Thus came the lovely spring, with a rush of blossoms 

 And music ; 



Flooding the earth with flowers and the air with melodies 

 Vernal." 



IN THE Golden state, the advent of spring time 

 is less gradual than on the snow-bound Atlan- 

 tic shores. Early in the year, the genial sun 

 shining upon the rain-soaked earth, calls up 

 the fresh, young grass to re-carpet hill, meadow 

 and wayside. The air is full of anticipation. Upon 

 slopes exposed to the ocean breeze, flourish the wild 

 blue iris, the lupin and the yellow pansy. 



In the bustling metropolis, the stranger pauses 

 at the street corner to purchase a bunch of fragrant 

 Russian violets or mignonette; and " the little birds 

 sit on the telegraph wires, and chitter and flitter 

 and fold their wings.'" 



By the end of March every garden, worthy of the 

 name, is a veritable bower ; sweet with lilac-plumes, 

 hawthorn and jasmine ; beautiful with great clumps 

 of calla-lilies, beds of velvety German pansies, 

 variegated verbenas, and blue forget-me-nots : or 

 gay with hyacinths, daffodils, flame-colored tulips 

 and camellias. 



First to break the rich brown soil are the cro- 



cuses, jonquils, snowdrops and lily of the valley : 

 and these are soon followed by the cowslips, prim- 

 roses and the polyanthus. Very spring-like appear 

 the leafless, blossom laden bouglis of the bridal- 

 rose, flowering quince and double buttercup.* 



The climbing rose vines, that all winter long have 

 been battling with the elements, put forth a wild 

 luxuriance of bloom and fragrance ; from the porch 

 roof, the wistaria flings down a multitude of grace- 

 ful, drooping clusters ; while fair rosamond, gold 

 of ophir and tea roses vie with each other in size 

 and quality. Upon smoothly-shaven lawns, the 

 polished leaves of the magnolia rustle in the soft 

 spring winds, in company with the fan-palm, and 

 the banana tree. 



With the pink and white of the apple blossoms, 

 the snow-drifts of the cherry trees, and the coral 

 red of the quince blossoms — a fairy scene indeed — 

 are now the fruit orchards, a short time since so 

 bare and lifeless. In the southern part of the state, 

 the atmosphere for miles around is filled with "the 

 odors of a thousand weddings, " from the vast orange- 

 groves. 



"Stately Easter lilies rise in season to commemorate the As- 

 cension. 



