I spent two hours among the California exhibits at the Exposition grounds a day or so ago. Conifers and fruit trees are looking splendid. I was glad to notice among flowering stuff Rhododendron occidentalis, and the pretty Australian Polygala Dalmasiana. The Rose exhibit in this collection is marvelous. Now would be the time to award premiums, when all the roses look so good, and not two months ago when nothing was visible but leaf buds and labels. The grounds are not remarkable for much else at present.

Inside, the Orchid exhibit is represented by about 800 plants. I notice in bloom Acropera citrina, Epidendrum oncidioides, E. vitellenum, E. odoratum, E. Brassavola, Lycaste aromatica, L. Deppei, Chysis aurea, and Cyrtopodium puncta-tum with splendid spikes, and several others of less note.

The exhibits of Cacti, Agave, etc, from Texas are getting small by degrees, and "beautifully less.' I expect there will not be many left at the close.

In the plant department there are several specimens of Carica papaya - Melon tree - both in fruit and flower. This is the original Papaw. In going through our own houses one may see five varieties of Passiflora in bloom, - P. princeps racemosa, P. Buchananii, P. Fortdii, P. Kermesina, and another with variegated foliage; I forget the name just now. Also Clerodendron Balfourii. I have four good pieces of Phalaenopsis amabilis in bloom; some Oncidiums, including sphacelatum, and sanguineum. My Dendrobium Wardianum, D. superbum, and D. thyrsiflorum are done. I got two good pieces of D. crepidatum, on fern tree blocks, in bloom for over a month. D. Parishii is fine. D. Dalhousianum has one spike open with 42 flowers, and 13 spikes in sight. I shall send you a photograph of this if I can get it taken to suit me. Also several Cattleyas of the Mossiae and Labiata percivaliana section. I have had Coryanthes macrantha good, but it only lasts three days after the flowers are open. No Orchid on this place lasts so long in bloom as Galeandra Devoniana.

No city or place that ever I have seen presents such an array of flowers now, and for a month past, as the city of New Orleans. Solanum Jas-minioides, Wistaria sinensis and Rhcyncospermum Jasminioides, 30 and 40 feet high, breaking out through the tops of Melia Azederach and Magnolia grandiflora; with Mareschal Neil, Gloire de Dijon, Reine Marie Henriette, Climbing Devoniensis, and La Marque. Roses hanging in garlands from tree to tree along the streets, is a sight never to be forgotten. The Crinums are all in bloom now; also several Yuccas, Panciatiums, Amaryllises, and almost everything else.