NOTES FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 515 



bucketsful of water, and immediately return the removed ground. This enables 

 the blossoms to resist the effects of drying winds ; the fruits set perfectly, develop 

 rapidly, and are less liable to the attacks of insects. The result is, that the fruit 

 does not subsequently drop. I have cherry-trees that formerly bore fruit only 

 every alternate year, which are now annual and abundant bearers, in consequence 

 of this treatment. C. V. Goldacker. 



According to the researches of Messrs. Schiibler and Kohler, of Tubingen, white 

 flowers are the most numerous in nature, and, at the same time, the most fragrant. 

 Red flowers come next in order. 



NOTES FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



BY WM. BEAL, CHEROKEE, N. C. 



Dear Horticulturist : Knowing that you feel an interest as well as many of 

 your readers, in all that is lovely to the eyes, pleasant to the senses, and refreshing 

 to the various wants of man, I hasten to try to bring some of our sweets and beau- 

 ties to your notice, although in a rough and rude manner. We have a difference 

 of climate in this county (Cherokee) of one month in the spring, so that, when I 

 left peas in bloom at Murphy, on the 10th of April, I found snow on the mountains, 

 in many places to the depth of from two to three feet ; and, on the 12th of April, 

 in some sheltered coves, I found the Claytonia Virginica just opening its blossoms 

 to cheer the eye of man. 



The scenery in the mountains is grand and picturesque, combining many of the 

 features of Switzerland, with a summer climate as beautiful as that of Italy, and 

 occupying a neutral ground, both mountains and valleys, between the malaria and 

 fevers of the South, and the consumption and rheumatism of the North — a climate 

 where the lowest extreme of last winter failed to sink the mercury more than three 

 degrees below zero, and the extreme heat of the summer does not often exceed 

 96°, and where, when our railroads are completed, the citizens of Cincinnati and 

 New Orleans can meet the citizens of Charleston, and enjoy a picnic, and almost 

 return home the same day. This section of country is yet quite new, and the 

 forests are as yet unbroken for many miles in extent, affording a safe retreat for 

 the panther, bear, wolf, and deer, which as yet furnish meat for the few red men 

 that remain among us, and the adventurous hunter or squatter. The flora of this 

 section has as yet been almost entirely neglected, and I find many rare plants, some 

 of which are entirely new to me. The Kalmia latifolia is now (June 10) in full 

 bloom, and, in one place, the side of the mountain is a complete mass of the bloom 

 of McDowell's Rhododendron, but it will be still more beautiful in a week more. 

 The ferns and lichens embrace quite a variety, some of which are entirely new, 

 or undescribed by botanists, so that here a wide field is open for investigation. 

 There is here, in the mountains, a variety of blackberry, which, I think, will rival 

 the New Rochelle, or any other known variety. It is quite thornless, and is now 

 just in bloom ; the canes are strong growers, and very productive when the cattle 

 do not eat them up, which they are quite apt to when they can get at them. The 

 fruit I have not seen, but am told that it varies from one and a half to two inches 

 in length, and one inch in diameter ; seeds quite small in large pulp, and very sweet ; 

 so that it will be a good acquisition to all of our gardens. 



We have also a variety of red raspberry that is new to me, and, in some respects, 

 resembles what is called thimbleberry in Northeastern New York and Canada, but 

 diff'ers from it in the form and color of the fruit. The canes are large, and branch 

 flowers of a pinkish color, but not very profuse, and the bark has a 



