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DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



1st. What are tlie best hives for keeping bees in 1 

 2d. Is an apiury be'.ter placed in tiie mid.st of a 

 parden, or in liirm-like fields surrounded by woods? 

 Yours, A Constant Reader. 



Commercial Gardening at the South. — We 

 publish the following letter entire, (contrary to our 

 usual practice with correspondence so complimen- 

 tary to ourselves.) that those of our readers inte- 

 rested may judge of the spirit which leads the wri- 

 ter to encourage horticulture at the South, where 

 we are obliged to say there has for a long time been 

 a most extraordinary apathy on all branches of 

 tasteful rural improvement, considering the wealth 

 and intelligence of many of the southern people. 



Within the past year, we have received several 

 private letters of similar tenor, regarding the want 

 of several large nursery establishments at the 

 south, conducted in a thorough and vigorous man- 

 ner. Undoubtedly there are thousands of persons 

 there who would buy and plant the finest fruit and 

 ornamental trees, if they were more acquainted 

 with their value and beauty ; and this kind of know- 

 ledge is in no way better promoted, than by the 

 presence of extensive nurseries in their midst. As 

 we have no interest in any nursery establishments 

 here, we trust some of our readers who are, and 

 who may be inclined to enter into Mr. Fish's views, 

 will correspond with him on the subject. — Ed. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. — Dear Sir : Being a great 

 friend and ardent admirer of horticulture in general, 

 I have read your works upon the " Fruits and Fruit 

 Trees of America," and "Rural Architecture and 

 Landscape Gardening," with the highest interest 

 and pleasure. I am happy in the conviction that 

 the lethargy which has so long possessed us of the 

 south, in these matters, is now being thrown off. A 

 spirit of improvement is rapidly gaining ground in 

 our midst, and horticulture and all its kindred arts, 

 60 Ions neglected, are beginning lo receive that 

 consideration which they so justly deserve. Suffer 

 me to say, sir, that such works as yours, of which I 

 have just spoken, have done more to arouse this 

 spirit, to excite this consideration, than all other in- 

 fluences together. Believing this, and at the same 

 time, being deeply impressed with the great influ- 

 ence which Horticulture and its kindred arts and 

 graces, must exercise in increasing the happiness 

 as well as prosperity of man, I carmot with with- 

 hold my humble tribute of thanks for the publica- 

 tion of vour highly valuable books. Although a 

 stranger, I have been anxious to add my humble 

 testimony to the high consideration and attention 

 which these works are now receiving even at 

 the south ; and to the happy reformation which 

 they are mainly instrumental m working, in a part 

 of our great country, which till recently had great- 

 ly neglected the interesting subjects of which they 

 so fully and ably treat. 



However, I do not know, sir, that I should have 

 intruded this communication upon you, but from the 

 desire to speak of one other matter, and, if possible, 

 to solict your aid. I have mentioned the spirit of 

 improvement — the great interest in Horticulture, 

 &c., which you have mainly aided to excite ; but 

 this spirit — this interest, receives a great cheek 

 from the fact that there «vre no extensive Nurseries 



and commercial gardens at the south, or at least 

 accessible to us. from which we can procure such 

 Fruits, Flowers, Shrubbery, &.C., as may be desired. 

 This is unquestionably felt as a sore inconvenience. 

 Many at the south are deterred from sending to the 

 north for their things, because the cost of transpor- 

 tation, and other expenses connected therewith, 

 especially when the orders are not large, would 

 be very considerable. Besides, there is a danger 

 of being imposed upon by nurserymen and garden- 

 ers, where orders are sent to them to be filled — and 

 again, there is great danger that the precious pack- 

 age of good things, being long on the way, may be 

 received in a very unsound condition. I am well 

 aware, our people are generally much averse to 

 sending orders for fruits, flowers, &c., and would 

 invariably patronise home gardens and nurseries if 

 we had them here. It is truly strange to me, sir, 

 that some of your enterprising nurserymen or gar- 

 deners, at thf north, have not long since come to 

 the south and established gardens and nurseries, or 

 that some ol' your establishments, north, have not 

 got up branch nurseries here. This is a matter of 

 which I have thought not a little, and I am anxious 

 to see an extensive garden and nursery in Georgia; 

 and I would suggest Macon, the place of my resi- 

 dence, as possessing altogether more advantages 

 in this respect than any other city or town in the 

 State. It is therelbre for the establishment at this 

 place of an extensive nursery, &c., that I would re- 

 spectfully solicit your aid and influence, if you could 

 in any way give it without inconvenience or trouble 

 to yourself. It is needless for me to say that such 

 an establishment at a central, accessible place at 

 the south, would give a great impetus to Horticul- 

 ture, he. I suggest Macon as a highly advanta- 

 geous location for a garden, nur^erj-, &.C., because 

 we have here a genial climate, and almost every 

 variety of soil. Any kind of soil or situation can 

 be had in our suburbs, and at very low prices. 

 Macon is also a very central place at the south, and 

 very accessible. We have long lines of radroads 

 running in various directions, and other lines still to 

 be constructed ; besides we have a river navigable 

 for six or eight months of the year. These rail- 

 roads make us, and will make us, very accessible 

 to every part of Georgia, North and South Caroli- 

 na, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, 

 and Florida. Fruit trees, flowers, shrubbery, &c., 

 could and would be sent, not only to the cities, but 

 to every part of the State. 



It may be urged that nurseries and gardens 

 should be near large cities. It is true, we have but 

 a population of about 7,000 in Macon, but we have 

 a good deal of wealth here, and the demand lor 

 fruits, flowers, &c., would be considerable. But 

 communicating as we do, with every part of the 

 Southern country, and having a direct trade with a 

 large part (and the wealthiest part) of Georgia, 

 the great demand would come from these various 

 parts and sections of the South. 



It would require but little capital, very little, to 

 establish a nursery, &c. here, as the ground would 

 cost but little ; and il' the nurseryman did not wish 

 to purchase, he could find numbers, as owners of 

 the soil, who would be glad to furnish the land, and 

 put it in as stock, in an establishment of the kind. 



