162 [Assembly 



to December; and there was no obstacle to prevent Mississippi, Ten- 

 nessee, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina from entering into it 

 with great success, and to any desired extent. 



Dr. Phillips has taken the lead near Natchez, and has been follow- 

 ed by several of his neighbors. 



Mr. Afflick, said the Bermuda grass had become a great article in 

 his Stale, One person realized by its cultivation $100 per acre. In- 

 stead of the common rail fence, they had introduced the Cherokee rose. 

 It is a running plant, and forms a vast hedge. A planter who has his 

 plantation well fenced with it, need have no fear of his negroes ab- 

 sconding. These hedges grow to the height of 18 feet, fall over on 

 each side, and are all winter covered with most beautiful single white 

 roses. 



Our finest grape at the south, is the jack grape. It grows in fine 

 large bunches, and makes excellent wine. Mr. Longworth's grape of 

 Ohio is the same. We are beginning to raise peaches for the New- 

 Orleans market, which sell readily at $11 per barrel ; have had them 

 on my table measuring 13 inches in circumference. I think we might, 

 in our fruits, astonish northern horticulturists. The comparative ease 

 with which we produce, has made us somewhat shiftless, but we 

 have quite as large a proportion of good farmers at the south as at 

 the north. 



Mr. Robinson, of Indiana, stated that there was a great opening for 

 wool growers in Indiana, but he did not know whether they could 

 compete with Mr. Afflick. This the future mu.«t decide. We have 

 certainly one disadvantage — we must always provide feed for five full 

 months. 



Mr. R. thought the south could not raise sheep to any great advan- 

 tage. A man to carry on this business with success, must be himself 

 a shepherd, and carry the lambs in his own bosom, and not trust to 

 miserable " lazij niggers." 



He could go to Ohio, and with the assistance of one boy, return 

 home in one month with 1,000 head of sheep, at a cost of less than 

 one dollar per head, and if he did not wish to keep them himself 

 could let his neighbors have them for half their wool, or receive dou- 

 ble their number in three years. We can keep them on hay, which 



