297 
PARK AND CCA\ETCRY. 
DEODAR, IN THE GROUNDS, BERKELEY, CAL. 
were within the historic period, five miles south of us 
in the San Lorenzo canons, while one of the largest 
Oak groves n California occupied the sandy shores of 
Oakland and Alameda. The Berkeley slope 
fronts the Golden Gate, and behind it steep moun- 
tains rise to the height of about 1500 feet. Shel- 
tered here from extremes of heat and cold, almost 
everything that is planted appears to thrive. The 
visitor sees nearly all the deciduous fruit trees, such 
as apples, pears, plums, cherries and apricots. 
Dwarf Japanese oranges, a large collection of 
Olives, — probably the most complete in America — , 
a collection of Mulberries, Japanese Persimmons, 
Chestnuts, Almonds and many other fruit and nut- 
bearing trees illustrate the range in this direction. 
One of the very rare nut trees is the Giievma 
Avellaua, of Chili, one of the most beautiful of 
trees, in flower or in fruit. Another very attractive 
nut tree is the Macadamia ternata or Queensland 
nut, a superb, broad-leaved evergreen. The first 
of these is worth testing in the Southern States, 
where it is likely to prove hardy; the Macadamia 
will hardly thrive out side of California and Flori- 
da. 
In comparatively close proximity to the fruit 
and nut trees I have mentioned, are fine specimens 
of ChionautJius Virginica , the Fringe Tree of the 
Atlantic States; of Sorbus aiicuparia and S. Amer- 
icana-, of Cary a alba', of Salisbnria adiantifolia of 
Ccratonia siliqiia, Prosopis jtdijiora, Pistacia tcre- 
binthtts and P. vera. Trees from every part of 
the world are represented along Strawberry Creek. 
Here is the Argan tree of the Barbary States 
{Argania sideroxyloti)-, the Hr achy chiton accrifoli- 
nni of Australia; the Rhus vernicifera, R. succeda- 
nca and Cainph,ora officinalis of 
Japan; the Ruitzia fragrans and 
Bcllota RIeirsii of Chili. 
In making up this collection 
during the past twenty years, the 
object of Professor Hilgard, the 
head of the Department of Agri- 
culture, and his many assistants, 
has been to bring together repre- 
sentative species from all such 
climatic regions as offered plants 
of possible practical value to 
California, rather than to create 
a complete botanical garden, 
which will be developed in due 
time on a larger scale than is 
possible at Berkeley. When the 
last complete list was published, 
about 500 species in 80 natural 
orders were represented in the 
plantation catalogue. This list 
has been steadily increased as opportunity offered, 
and there are always new trees and plants in the 
nurseries not yet planted out. It would be fair to 
estimate that 1000 species of woody plants could be 
listed on the grounds. 
Besides these miscellaneous plantations, the 
Agricultural Department has an orchard, a collec- 
tion of species and varieties of Vitis, a garden of me- 
dicinal and economic plants, and a botanical garden, 
all at Berkeley. In other parts of California are 
four Experiment sub-stations of considerable size, 
well-equipped and officered, also two forestry sta- 
tions, and a private viticultural station. Consi- 
derable collections of vines and trees are being 
made at these points not alone for vineyards, and 
orchard work, but also as the beginnings of arbore- 
tums. Charles H. Shinn. 
VEGETATION. — Fragility or force, softness and 
strength, in all degrees and aspects; unerring up- 
rightness, as of temple pillars, or undivided wander- 
ing of feeble tendrils on the ground; mighty resist- 
ances of rigid arm and limb to the storms of ages, 
or wavings to and fro with faintest pulse of sum- 
mer streamlet. Roots cleaving the strength of rock, 
or binding the transience of the sand; crests bask- 
ing in sunshine of the desert, or hiding by dripping 
spring and lightless cave; foliage far tossing in en- 
tangled fields beneath every wave of ocean — cloth- 
ing with variegated, everlasting films, the peaks of 
the trackless mountains, or ministering at cottage 
doors to every gentlest passion and simplest joy of 
humanity. — -The foregoing is an extract from John 
Ruskin’s writings, full of the eloquence of that 
master of the English language. 
