editor's table. 



Gaedbneks. — Mr. Editor : I was much, pleased with your remarks on Robert Meston's 

 letter, about gardeners ; it is the greatest mistake that a young man can make, to suppose 

 that resi^ectability means absence of labor ; it is folly to say that the professions of law or 

 medicine are more genteel than gardening, or any other handicraft work. A skilled work- 

 man is more independent of charity, and in a more respectable and reliable position in 

 society than the skilled clerk, or the skilled professional man, so far as the mere callings of 

 each are concerned. A late emphatic writer asserts truly, that a larger proportion 6f the 

 clergymen, doctors, salesmen, tradesmen, merchants, speculators in land, and i)lanters, of 

 his country, are involved in debt, and will never pay their debts, than of the laborer, yeoman 

 farmers, mechanics, and artisans. Sensible and industrious farmers and nurserymen, who 

 have started in life with no capital but a good common school education, and a good farm- 

 boy's skill, and strength for labor, more often spend a happy and grateful old age among 

 children and children's children, of whom they are proud, than men of any other calling. 



The idea that a muscular, or handicraft occupation, if directed with the genius and thought 

 it always may and should be, is lower or less fortunate, or less likely to be attended with 

 honor in a free country, than the occupations of transfer, copying and adapting forms and 

 precedents, is a most false and pernicious one. Genius, taste, energy, and dexterity, as 

 well as capital in general knowledge, and culture of mind, are even more valuable, and are 

 at this time more wanted in our market, and are better paid for in the artisan and mechanic, 

 than they are in the tradesman or professional man. As to gardeners, it will not do to say 

 they are under-paid ; they receive twice as much as a farm-hand, and, with the education 

 they acquire in their apprenticeship, even if they have not talent above the grade of an 

 ignorant field-laborer, they are sure, with steady habits, to anive at an enviable and happy 

 social position. An Old Gardener. 



The "New Rochelle" Blackberry. — I wish to learn from practical cultivators, through 

 the '^ Horticulturist," how the "New Rochelle" Blackberry has endured the severe cold of 

 the last winter in the latitude of Boston and southern New Hampshire. I find all parts of 

 the plants in my grounds, that did not get buried in the deep snow, killed, as also are the 

 "Improved High Bush," or Dorchester Seedling. The "New Rochelle" having been recom- 

 mended as perfecth/ hardi/, and mine not proving so, thus far, has led me to make the inquiry 

 of the readers of the " Ilorticidturist,'" which, by the way, gives very general satisfaction to 

 all its readers with whom I have conversed, in Eastern Massachusetts. 



Food for Travellers. — " Wholesome water, and wholesome, fresh fruits, are not to be 

 obtained by the traveller, in the largest part of the United States. Bacon, fat, and salt, is 

 the stock article of diet. He must satisfy his appetite with this, or with coarse or most in- 

 digestible forms of bread. In either case, he will have an unnatural thirst, and the only 

 means ordinarily offered him, at country-houses, for satisfying this, will be an exceedingly 

 dirty and unpalatable decoction of cofl'ee, of which the people usually consume an excessive 

 quantity ; or alcoholic liquors, of the most fiery and pernicious description. 



There is no reason, I believe, why every farmer in the Union should not now make a wine 

 for his family use, which, with most jiersons, would be most advantageously and economi- 

 cally substituted for cofl'ee and tea, and which use would soon make more palatable than 

 any other beverage, for ordinary purposes." — Olmsted's Seaboard States. 



City Taste for Rpral Things. — The Parisians have inaugurated horse-meat as an article 

 of excellent food, much to the liorror of John Bull and his brother. Punch says : " Wc do 

 not believe that even Soyer, with all his arts, could render horse-flesh palatable, or tliat a 

 fricandeau de cab-horse, or cotelettes of Shetland pony, will ever become an acceptable dish. 

 We must look forward to the time when, from eating horses, the members will jjroceed to 

 eating asses, and thus by an easy and natural step, arrive at the point where they will begin 

 eating each other. In this way, the society may possibly be extinguished, if it does not 

 previously poison itself quite out, by the trash it feeds upon." 



A Bit of Fun. — The President of the club mentioned below, allows us to extract the 

 following proceedings from the " regular minutes": — 



Farmers' Cluu, at Clifton, near Cincinnati. — At a meeting of the Amateur Farmers of 

 Clifton, held recently at the School-house, the following interesting discussion took place : — 



Col. B. was called upon to preside, and .lolm Quill ai)pointed Secretary. 



Upon taking the chair. Col. B. remarked, that the ol>ject of the meeting was to discuss 

 subjects connected with agriculture, and the more important branches of horticulture — as 



