Our floods seem to be over. It has been a long, dreary, wet spell, the longest ever known in the state. Now that we have had a chance to look over the ruins during the ten bright days past, we find that we are not seriously injured. Some rolling fields of light soil are badly washed and guttered. Some bridges are gone. There are many miles of damaged roads, and little remains of small grains planted, except in the dry interior valleys, where the crop promises to be immense. In this, Sonoma county, scarcely any damage was done, except in the roads, the loss of a few small bridges and the injury of grain crop. This last will prove no great loss, for the land can yet be planted in more profitable crops, though such as cost more labor. The average Californian has no love for a great exercise of his own labor. He prefers to earn his bread by the sweat of his hired man's brow.

The prospects for fruits of all kinds, it is generally conceded, were never better. Ten days of bright, warm sun has painted our hills, valleys and mountains with Flora's brush, with every rainbow tint. The air is laden with spicy fragrance. The almond put on her pink colors a month ago, and still looks fresh and sweet. The apri-cot followed suit a little later, blushing still more brightly at being a little late. The peach is showing tiny globes of crimson, with no fear of biting frosts. The cherries and plums are donning their dresses of white. The apple is in no hurry. This is truly the land of fruits and flowers, especially flowers. There has not been a day this winter but that one could form a bouquet from a dozen species of flowers plucked from the open-air gardens of this little city. It seems strange to reach up and pluck from a rose-tree full-blown and perfect roses or buds, when the soft, wet soil is frozen beneath our feet nearly firm enough to bear one ; yet this is one of the peculiarities of this strange climate, proving that it is not the freezing that kills, but rather the sudden thawing out in dry air.

These very wet winters seem to come periodically, once in ten or twelve years, and are looked upon as of great benefit to the farmer, especially so in the dry interior, in washing out and flooding away the alkali, and they are generally followed by several extra fine crops.

- D. B. Wier, Petaluma, California March 15th.

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The American Association of Nurserymen convened at the Park Avenue Hotel, New York City* on Wednesday morning, the 4th of June. President Sweet's address detailed the migration of the center of the nursery trade from Western New York, where it existed thirty yearo ago, to Ohio or even farther west. He also mentioned the fact that prices of nursery stock are steadily declining. The report of the treasurer showed about $1,000 in the treasury.

H. E. VanDeman, United States Pomologist, spoke at length of new fruits. He emphasized the importance of giving greater attention to native fruits - that is, fruits of native wild plants. The United States is richer in promising wild fruits than any other country in the temperate zones. There are some 20 uncultivated species of indigenous grapes, for instance, some of which are more promising than Vitis Labrusca was in the wild state.

The varieties of native plums are promising, especially the offspring of Prunus Americana in the northwest A number of varieties were alluded to.

Of Japanese plums, Botan is very promising. It appears to be hardy even in Connecticut. It is much like Kelsey, except that the fruit is less pointed and only about half so large. Ogon, often erroneously written Ogan, is equally hardy. The fruit is nearly round, yellow, the size of the Wild Goose. Burbank is one of the most promising Japanese plums. It has not yet fruited outside of California, but it gives promise of being hardy in the east. It is not much larger than Wild Goose; purplish and remarkably handsome, very rich, being equally as good as any green gage. The Satsuma or Blood plum will probably prove hardy in the north also. It is large, about two inches in diameter, with a very small stone; good in quality, medium in season, and blood red inside. The Kelsey is a very large fruit, often measuring three] inches in diameter. The color is purplish, over a tint of yellowish green. The true Kelsey will not mature north of Tennessee or North Carolina. The variety as sent out is much mixed.

The Japanese plum foliage is not attacked by the fungus which causes the foliage of common varieties to drop prematurely.

Primus Simoni gives little promise except as a possible parent of improved sorts. The fruit is usually poor, medium in size.

The Clyman is one of the most promising of all new plums, from the fact that it ripens with the Wild Goose, fully six weeks ahead of common plums. It is true Prunus domestica. It is Californian in origin, but gives promise in the east.

Of grapes, the Lyon was much praised by the speaker. It is a red grape, larger than Delaware, and a better bunch, with quality fully as good. It is of Michigan origin, and is named for the venerable T. T. Lyon. The Ohio Culinary grape is a very foxy and poor sort. The Colerain grape was well spoken of by several. It is a white grape, ripening between Martha and Lady. The skin is somewhat tender, but it will ship as well as Worden. The Green Mountain is the earliest white grape, and is fair in quality. Woodruff Red bids fair to become a good market grape, but for amateur use it is inferior.

Krull is one of the most promising new pears. It is, in Mr. VanDeman's opinion, the best winter pear yet produced. It resembles the Lawrence, is fully as late as Vicar and as good as Nelis. It originated in Missouri, and is not yet disseminated. Idaho is a second and im. proved edition of Duchess. Philopena, from Indiana, is very promising; the original tree is fifty years old, and is a seedling reared by Ruben Ragan.

Among apples, the Garfield, from Illinois, was praised. It is very hardy ; fruit nearly as large as Ben Davis, brilliant crimson striped on a yellow ground, slightly conical, good in quality. Leight on, of Illinois, is much like Garfield ; a yellowish fruit - and a very hardy sort. Shirk is a new Indiana fall sweet apple of great promise. It is the season of Bailey Sweet, and the tree is a nice grower. Bullman is an Illinois apple which is the same as Red Canada. Ivanhoe is a late winter apple, very poor in quality; much like Mann in looks, but not so flat. Peffer, from Wisconsin, is a seedling of Pewaukee, but a better apple and fully as hardy. The Windsor apple, also a Wisconsin seedling, is a medium red, handsome ; flesh very white, poor in quality, hardy. Colton is an Ohio apple, one of the best very early summer sorts. It is very productive; a good cooking kind. Harry Kaump, from Wisconsin, is a late fall apple of promise, medium in size, greenish yellow. Foundling, an old New England winter apple, was recommended for general culture.

Of strawberries the Pearl was particularly endorsed. Nut culture is assuming prominence, particularly chestnut culture. Wherever wild chestnuts grow, the culture of the improved nut can be successfully prosecuted. The Dupont or Ridgely is a good chestnut, but the Paragon is probably better. Native chestnuts are always better in quality than foreign sorts. The pecan has been wonderfully improved of late, and some sorts are now grown from which the bitter inner rind is removed.

The Crandall currant was endorsed. It is variable, and this variableness was found to be due, according to a statement made in the meeting, to the fact that several original plants, all seedlings, were distributed as the same.

Among oranges, the Hart's Late is one of the most valuable, chiefly because it is very late. It was introduced from England many years ago by S. B. Parsons. It is also known as Excelsior (the oldest name), Brown,' and in California, as Valencia Late. Bessie, a Florida seedling, is equally as late as the last and as good. Jaffa and Majorca are recent introductions of great value. The Satsuma is the hardiest of all edible fruited oranges, but it cannot be commercially grown even as far north as Georgia.

The pomelo is a valuable citrus fruit of which named sorts have not been grown in this country. Some named sorts are now introduced, of which Aurantium is one of the best, This fruit is often erroneously called grape-fruit and shaddock.

Of lemons, the Villafranche is good. It is a sweet rinded sort. Eureka, from California, is one of the very best.

G. E. Meissner argued that stock can be dug too early in the fall. A resolution was offered and after much discussion adopted, urging that the Association use its influence to discourage the practice of early sale and, digging of nursery stock. The wood of trees should be allowed to mature naturally. It appeared to be the sense of the meeting that early fall digging of trees was almost entirely the fault of customers, many of whom persist in ordering too early.

[The remaining report will appear in the next issue. ] Professor Bailey offered a resolution, which was a-dopted, requesting the Secretary of Agriculture to turn over to the Division of Pomology for the purchase and distribution of new fruits, at least $5,000 of the $100,-000 appropriated by Congress for the distribution of seeds and plants.

James D. Raynolds, president of the Chicago Florists' Club, was endorsed by the Association for the position of Commissioner of Horticulture of the World's Fair.

A.committee on registration of plants was appointed, consisting of L . H. Bailey, New York, N. H. Albaugh, Ohio, and S. B. Parsons, New York.

S. M. Emery was constituted a standing committee on express rates.

The officers of the ensuing year, are S. M. Emery, Minnesota, president; J. Van Lindley, N. Carolina, first vice president; C. A. Green, New York, secretary ; A. R. Whitney, Illinois, treasurer; Irving Rouse, New York, W. J. Peters, Ohio, and Franklin Davis, Maryland, executive committee. The next meeting is to be held at St. Paul or Minneapolis.