which at first envelop and afterwards twist round the pedicel of each flower, being paler than the rest. We made drawings and photographs of the plant and preserved specimens in spirit, to enable a good coloured figure of the plant to be published. I doubt the possibility of cultivating this fine plant, but I think that roots dug up and transported with care two or three weeks before the flowering season would produce perfect flowers if kept moist and cool. It was too early to form any idea of the herbaceous flora of these fine forests, as the vegetation was backward in comparison with that at similar elevations farther north, but it appeared to be rich and varied.
Lilium Humboldti was already in bud in the gorges at 2,000 to 3,000 feet, but I saw no form of Washingtonianum so far south, and though I searched carefully for Lilium Parryi in the original place where it was discovered near the San Gorgonio Pass, I could find no plants large enough to be identified, as they have been mostly dug up by bulb collectors. The only place, however, where it was known to occur in abundance is a bit of marshy ground in deep black peaty soil, and as this has been partially drained the plant may have suffered in consequence. It is a rarity, and I hope the bulb gatherers and potato growers will not ex¬ terminate it.
I was a little disappointed with the variety and beauty of the annuals in California of which I had heard and at home seen so much. But we did not visit the coast, where, perhap's, they are more abundant, and the season for some of them was rather gone by. Of the orange groves, vineyards, peach and apricot orchards of California I need say nothing. Are they not known to everyone by their produce if not in reality ? One thing I would, however, urge upon Californian fruit-growers, and that is, to make their delicious dried apricots and peaches known in England, where they are never seen and would be thoroughly appreciated; and to turn their attention rather to making fine light wines than sherry and port, which are not so much drunk or liked as formerly. The country which can succeed in imitating the wines of Bordeaux and the Rhine in bouquet and flavour, and which can produce light table wines as wholesome, as digestible and as nourishing as those are, when natural and unadulterated, is certain to have an unlimited demand at a good price; whilst the heavier, stronger and sweeter wines such as are produced by Portugal, Spain and Australia can probably be grown cheaper and better in other countries than California.^
The Californian fruit-growers have since done what Mr. Elwes recommended
forty years ago, though Prohibition has put an end to the Californian wine in¬
dustry.— Ed.
