526 [Senate 



Mr. Afflick said the Bermuda grass had become a great article in 

 his State. One person realized by its cultivation $100 per acre. In- 

 stead of the common rail fence, they had introduced the Cherokee rose. 

 It is a running plant, and forms a vast hedge. A planter who has his 

 plantation well fenced with it, need have no fear of his negroes ab- 

 sconding. These hedges grow to the height of 18 feet, fall over on 

 each side, and are all winter covered with most beautiful single white 

 roses. 



Our finest grape at the south, is the Jack grape. It grows in fine 

 large bunches, and makes excellent wine. Mr. Longworth's grape of 

 Ohio is the same. We are beginning to raise peaches for the New- 

 Orleans market, which sell readily at $11 per barrel ; have had them 

 on my table measuring 13 inches in circumference. I think we might, 

 in our fruits, astonish northern horticulturists. The comparative 

 ease with which we produce, has made us somewhat shiftless, but we 

 have quite as large a proportion of good farmers at the south as at the 

 north. 



Mr. Robinson, of Indiana, stated that there was a great opening for 

 wool growers in Indiana, but he did not know whether they could 

 compete with Mr. Afflick. This the future must decide. We have 

 certainly one disadvantage — we must always provide feed for five full 

 months. 



Mr. R. thought the south could not raise sheep to any great advan- 

 tage. A man to carry on this business with success, must be himself 

 a shepherd, and carry the lambs in his own bosom, and not trust to 

 miserable " lazy niggers. '^'^ 



He could go to Ohio, and with the assistance of one boy, return 

 home in one month with 1,000 head of sheep, at a cost of less than 

 one dollar per head, and if he did not wish to keep them himself could 

 let his neighbors have them for half their wool, or receive double their 

 number in three years. We can keep them on hay, which in the 

 stack costs us but one dollar per ton. Our worst season is late in 

 autumn ; the prairie grass then fails, and we are obliged to sow rye or 

 other grain for fall feed. One of the greatest difficulties in the matter 

 is our clayey soils ; there are other sections free from this objection 

 in abundance, where wool can be raised to profit for 12 J cents per 

 pound. 



Gen. Tallmadge. — Are they not troubled with burrs 1 



Mr. R. — We are not, but in the southern part of the State, they 

 prove a great annoyance. 



Great losses are frequently sustained by over driving. Drivers 

 should never drive over 10 miles per day ; nine-tenths of the driving 

 is done after August, and not wishing to feed hay, they are turned out 

 on the prairies, where they are frequently found in a state of actual 

 starvation. 



