CORTlESrONDENCE AND MISCELLANY- 125 



ity in this country is before it, unless it may be Boston, in point 

 Df fruits. 



Most of the flowers I saw at the exhibition, were from the gar- 

 ilen of R. Buist, 140 South 12th street. I visited the establish- 

 jnent of this gentleman, and spent an hour pleasantly walking about 

 lis grounds and greenhouses. Mr. B. is the author of an excel- 

 lent work on the cultivation of flowers, and one called " the Rose 

 ivTanual." The varieties of this favorite flower have become so 

 liumerous as to require a work containing full directions. This 

 vant Mr, B. has supplied. 



Mr. B. mentioned some experiments he had been trying with 

 •uano. One table-spoonful in a four inch pot of pure sand de- 

 troyed the germinating power in seeds. When one-fourlh part of 

 hat quantity was used the seeds germinated and grew well. With 

 wo table-spoonsful! of artificial guano the effect was the same as 



I the smaller quantity of the natural guano, showing a difference 

 f 1 to 8 in favor of the natural. 



I spent an afternoon very pleasantly at the house of Doct. 

 Ilitchell, six miles from the city. This gentleman has made great 

 nprovements in the short space of three years, in which he has 

 een upon his farm. But persevering enterprise will accomplish in 



short time, what many a man would require a life time to effect, 

 'he Doctor is devoting his personal attention to the cultivation of 

 )reign grapes. He has a large grapery under glass, and has it 

 ocked with choice varieties, which he tests carefully, and rejects 



II that do not suit him. At the time I saw them, ihe vines, of 

 nly three years growth were loaded with tempting clusters, but 

 ot yet ripe. One cluster I must mention in particular, and, mark 

 pader, upon my own credit for veracity — for so Doct. M. charged 

 ^e, lest he might lie under the imputation — but no matter, the 

 lie fact is a fact for I helped him measure it — the cluster was two 



efj four inches and five-eights in length, and exactly three feet 

 Jross the wings. This was the grape of Palestine ; and reminded 

 c of those described in the Book of Numbers, 13ih chapter, 23d 

 ;rse — " And they came unto the valley of Eshcol and cut down 

 om Ihence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it 

 'tween two u^on a staf^ 



I was desirous of visiting the farm of James Gowan, Esq.; but 

 ! was absent from the city and I missed the opportunity. You 



