174 THE FLORIST. 
of blackbirds and thrushes should plant: it, as the fruit in July is much 
prized by these choristers; and probably a few trees in the woods 
would satisfy them, and make them less craving after garden fruit, 
though we expect these shrewd fellows will continue to prefer a May 
Duke or Elton to the Black Gean of the woods; the Jay, too, is very 
fond of the Wood Cherry. orld 
The prospect for an abundant crop of orchard fruit is very promising ; 
garden Pears, Plums, and Cherries look equally well. Peaches have 
suffered greatly in some situations by the inclement weather of April 
and the first part of May. Apricots are generally a thin crop, the 
foliage never apparently recovered the injury it received from the spring 
frosts of 1859. Strawberries will be a very partial crop; on dry soils 
they have stood the winter well, but in cold situations have suffered 
much, and are looking weakly and blooming scantily. Kitchen garden 
_ produce is making great progress, and will probably be little if any 
behind the run of ordinary seasons. | 
The plans for the Kensington Gore gardens strike one as being well 
adapted to the peculiarities of site and accompanying architectural 
features. If fault there is in the details, it lies in great excess: of 
pannelling and embankments, which, if ever the mzlion are admitted, 
will stand a good chance of having their angles unceremoniously 
reduced. The Crystal Palace gardens after the /oresters’ fete, Mr. 
Kyles will not, we think, forget in a hurry; and notwithstanding the 
beauty of verdant slopes and ramps, they are not exactly the thing for 
a large concourse of people to scramble over. We» think, too, that 
without the introduction of more large trees the gardens will have a 
flat naked appearance for some years to come. We hear symptoms of 
an early dissolution of the Pomological Society. How is that ? if 
G. F. 
MAMMOTH-TREE VALLEY. 
THosE who find themselves oppressed (says Mollhausen in his “Journey 
from the Mississippi to the Coasts of the Pacific”) by the ¢rowds' in - 
the rapidly-growing towns (in California), and stunned and wearied by 
the ceaseless uproar of active trade and the society of men who are 
indifferent to almost everything but gold,—for which they are willing’ 
to sacrifice both health and life,—may find relief and compensation in 
the mild climate, in the fruitful soil bordering the rivers whose waters’ 
reflect the grandest Oaks and Pines, and in the generous return that’ 
the inexhaustible fertility of the soil will make for the slightest labour’ 
bestowed on it; and while the sickly gold digger is watching mistrust=" 
fully over his treasures, the tiller of the ground may find delight in 
watching the prosperous growth of every seed and plant he puts into it, 
or in wandering over his rich pastures and seeing his prosperity’ 
continually increasing with the increase of his flocks and herds. = 
California is the land of wonders, and every traveller who reaches it” 
may find something in it corresponding to his inclinations. The observer 
of nature and worshipper of her silent influences, who feels himself 
most at home in the vast realm of the vegetable world, and in watching” 
