grass; but no large streams. Well does it merit its name! The heat is intense, and the dryness of the atmosphere invariable, 29° not unfrequently, which, if I mistake not, is not exceeded in Arabia or Persia. In this fine district how I lament the want of such majestic rivers as the Columbia! In the course of my travels on the western and northern parts of this continent, on my former as well as my present journey, I have observed that all mountainous countries, situated in a temperate climate, agitated by volcanic fires, and washed by mighty torrents which forms gaps or ravines in the mountains, lay open an inexhaustible field for the researches of the Botanist. Early as was my arrival on this coast, spring had already commenced; the first plant I took in my hand was Ribes speciosum, Pursh (Bot. Mag. t. 3530; Bot. Reg. t. 1557), remarkable for the length and crimson splendor of its stamens; a flower not surpassed in beauty by the finest Fuchsia; and for the original discovery of which we are indebted to the good Mr. Archibald Menzies, in 1779. The same day I added to my list Nemophila insignis (Bot. Reg. t. 1713; Bot. Mag. t. 3485), a humble, but lovely plant, the harbinger of Californian spring, which forms as it were a carpet of the tenderest azure hue. What a relief does this charming flower afford to the eye from the effects of the sun's reflection on the micaceous sand where it grows. These, with other discoveries of less importance, gave me hope. From time to time, I contrived to make excursions in this neighborhood, until the end of April, when I undertook a journey southward, and reached Santa Barbara, 34°25', in the middle of May, where I made a short stay, and returned late in June, by the same route, ococcasionally penetrating the mountain-valleys which skirt the coast. Shortly afterwards I started for San Francisco, and proceeded to the north of that port. My principal object was to reach the spot whence I returned in 1826, which I regret to say, could not be accomplished. My last observation was 38°45', which leaves an intervening blank of sixty-five miles. Small as this distance may appear to you, it was too much for me![1]
My whole collection of this year in California, may amount to five hundred species, a little more or less. This is vexatiously small, I am aware, but when I inform you that the season for botanizing does not last longer than three months, your surprise will cease. Such is the rapidity with which spring advances, as on the tablelands of Mexico and the platforms of the Andes in Chili, the plants bloom here only for a day. The intense heat set in about June, when every bit of herbage was dried to a cinder. The facilities for travelling are not great, whereby much time is lost: this, as a matter of course, is the case in all new countries. It would require at least three years to do any-
- ↑ If his "last observation" was correct the intervening distance was about 300 miles. —Ed. Quarterly.
