NOTES ON SOUTHERN HORTICULTURE. 



larly on Sundays, when, as it is easily accessible by railroad, thousands flock to it to get 

 a little fresh air and a nosegay. It is laid out in the English style, and is a pleasant place 

 of retreat from the heat and stench of this dirtiest of all cities. It, however, possesses 

 no horticultural or botanical attraction. The garden is a source of profit from its flowers, 

 but I suspect more money is made from the sale of liquor in the hotel which is connected 

 with it. It is owned by the railroad company, and is the only attraction at that termi- 

 nus of the line. 



But there are many quiet, snug little gardens and delicious retreats, scattered here and 

 there, through the city and its suburbs, giving a little variet}'^ to the vmgainl}- masses of 

 brick and mortar that constitute our squares, for except in public buildings, New-Orleans 

 possesses no architectural beauty. As the city becomes Americanised, more and more 

 taste seems to be developed. The houses are built back from the street. Trees are plant- 

 ed. Shrubberies unfold their sweets, and an idea begins to prevail, that there are other 

 pleasures besides the gathering of dollars, and filling the stomach Mith dainties from the 

 market. 



The markets here are poorly supplied with vegetables. Celery is brought from the west, 

 as are cabbages; every boat that comes down in the fall being literally covered with the 

 latter. Strawberries are very scarce, and very acid, as a general rule. I have, however, 

 seen fine ones in the gardens upon the coast. They are just beginning to find out how to 

 cultivate them. I was on a visit last year, to a plantation not far from the city, the pro- 

 prietor of which took me out one fine morning to admire his strawberry beds, which wore 

 white with blossoms. He remarked that it was singular he never could raise anj', though 

 his plants seemed to bloom well, and had the greatest attention paid to them. He had 

 tried to raise them for five years, and was about giving them up in despair. I examined 

 his plants, and found they were nearly all males. I explained to him the distinction, 

 which, though he had heard of, had never been pointed out to him before. It appears he 

 had purchased his plants from some dishonest nurseryman in the vest, Avho had taken 

 advantage of his ignorance on the subject, and got rid of his barren plants at a high price. 

 This 3'ear he will have a fair crop, as will many of his neighbors, who have heretofore 

 been in the same predicament as himself. While on the subject of strawberries, I will cor- 

 rect an error of the great Linnjeus, Avho has said that strawberiies were good for the 

 gout. A friend of mine tried the experiment, and literally " put his foot into it," for he 

 was rewarded for his indulgence by a very sharp fit of that by no means pleasant disease. 



Within the last year or two, I have seen very fine Cauliflowers in the market. The Ar- 

 tichoke, which, when properly cooked, is a delicious vegetable, is here a great favorite, and 

 very common. Every garden, of course, contains a space devoted to Okra. Water-melons 

 will grow here, but are ver}^ insipid, while the green fleshed Nutmeg Melon, is nowhere 

 more delicious. Figs and Oranges are abundant, while the Pear, Cherry, and the Plum, 

 (except the wild kinds,) do not thrive at all. Bannanas grow and bear readily in the open 

 air, but in very cold seasons are apt to be killed to the roots, when it requires tM'o jears 

 for them to bear again. They are, however, imported in profusion from Havana, with 

 Oranges and Pineapples, and other tropical fruits. The Olive will stand the winter here, 

 and bear well, and might be made a source of profit; but I have only seen it grown on one 

 or two plantations, and then only as a curiosity. 



As I have before stated, there is not much true horticultural taste here, or much know- 

 ledge of trees and shrubs, eithci- in town or countrj'^. Perhaps one reason is, that there 

 are no large nurseries, from which trees and slirubs may be seen and procured. Thcr 

 several nurseries on a small scale, in the vicinity of the city, but thej^ contain notli 



