196 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Aug. 



could produce so many gentlemen passionately 

 t'ond of gardening, and possessing so much prac- 

 :ical knowledge on the subject. At the time we 

 were first there, (5th July,) there was a serious 

 drouth that had affected vegetation much, and 

 irnade the sandy street anything but pleasant; — 

 but when we returned from southern Ohio, a 

 week after, copious rains had fallen and every- 

 thing was fresh and enlivened. 



The cherry suffers much around Cleveland, 

 '«^lumbus and other parts of Ohio, as well as in 

 Michigan, as far as we have been, from the ef- 

 fects of the sun on the trunk, both in winter and 

 summer. We found the trunks wrapped up, in 

 many cases, with straw and cloth. We suggest, 

 as a remedy, that the trees he not pruned up, as 

 they tisualli/ are, but be allmced to branch out 

 near the ground. The trunk will thus be pro- 

 tected, which seems to be all that is wanted. — 

 Jb Cincinnati, we are informed, they have al- 

 most abandoned the culture of the cherry, they 

 are so much discouraged. We think that the 

 trees grown as dwarfs or pyramids will suffer 

 "Jess, if they suffer at all. At any rate, the ex- 

 periment may be tried. We consider it a great 

 error to expose the trunks of cherry trees to 

 the height of five, six and eight feet, in that cli- 

 wiate. 



Passing from Cleveland to Columbus, through 

 the interior of the State, I was much disappointed 

 with the condition of the country. It has been 

 settled some 30 yeai-s and upwards — and this, in 

 such a country, abounding with natural 'vealth 

 and with every facility for its developement, 

 s^JTiould give the country an aspect of good culture 

 and growing refinement. But, as a general thing, 

 there are but a few, very few, evidences of either. 



The system of field culture seems to be that 

 usually suggested by laziness and ignorance com- 

 bined. The houses old and dilapidated — orchards 

 few and poor — gardens, none beyond a patch of 

 cabbage or onions — school-houses miserable be- 

 yond description, fit only for occupation during 

 the summer months ; and the scholars, as might 

 be expected, wild looking, dirty, and ragged. — 

 Poor things, I felt most for them. There are not 

 sxich wretched schools in the poorest portions of 

 the old world, that claims to be civilized at all. 

 h is to be hoped that this state of things will not 

 endure long. Here and there 1 find that neW: 

 settlers are coming in, and bringing with them 

 skill, enterprise, and taste. Their example will 

 oe felt by their neighbors, and their success will 

 induce others of like character to follow and set- 

 tle beside them. Ten years hence, if I live to 

 travel this way, I may find gardens and fruit trees 

 10 admire and talk of. 



That portion of Ohio known as the Western 

 Reserve is said to be the most highly cultivated. 

 There and along the rich valley of the Ohio and 

 some of the other rivers, we would no doubt find 

 good gardens and orchards. 



Columbus, the .Capital of the State, is quite a 

 pretty place — situated on the Sciota river in the 

 midst of a fertile valley of land well adapted to 

 gardening. Few cities that I have seen are so 

 fortunate in this respect, as far as I can judge. 

 Much taste begins to be manifested in the erec- 

 tion of dwellings. Collections of rare plants and 

 fine fruits, too, are rapidly forming. Nurseries 

 are springing up. Our friend Burr says he is 

 going to beat the world (Cincinnati included,) 

 with his strawberries. I was too late to see them. 



The supply of vegetables in the market is ex- 

 cellent. I have seldom seen better. This bi»si- 

 ness is mainly in the hands of Germans, of whom 

 there is a large settlement near the town. It 

 was quite a luxury for me to stroll among their 

 richly laden stands and wagons, between four 

 and five o'clock in the morning. 



Columbus lias also an active Horticultural So- 

 ciety. Mr. Latham, the President, has one of 

 the finest collections of Native Grapes in the 

 country. His vines are just coming into bear- 

 ing. We found our friend Mr. Bateham there, 

 as kind and gentlemanly as usual — busy with his 

 "Cultivator" and his "little farm." Success to 

 them both. I have seen many a district in Ohio 

 where the "Cultivator" ought to circulate. Go 

 on, friend B. You have a boundless field to work 

 in, and the work must be done. 



1 had almost forgot to mention one of the most 

 interesting objects that 1 saw in Columbus, in the 

 way of Horticulture. A small garden, but filled 

 with every thing, and every thing in perfection. 

 At every step I was surprised and delighted. — 

 Choice roses of various classes were in full bloom; 

 so were dahlias, carnations, verbenas, and many 

 other things. Plums, apricots, peaches, and 

 grapes were bending under their load of fruit. — 

 No cur'culio was there, or the sign of one ; no 

 blight or mildew ; every spot where a tree or 

 plant could be trained up, or stand, was filled. — 

 It looked like a fairy scene indeed. The whole 

 secret is, the things are taken care of — not a 

 dead leaf or decayed fruit is allowed to remain a 

 moment after falling. The walks are kept as 

 clean as they can be swept daily ; health and vig- 

 or is maintained throughout, by skillful and care- 

 ful attention. Mr. Bate>iam may direct his 

 negligent or unskillful neighbors to visit Mrs. 

 McCoys. Her little garden is a perfect model 

 of its size. 



Raising of Pea Nuts. — A correspondent of the Genesee 

 I'armer asks ita editor whether Pea Nuts can be raised in 

 this country? The editor says he don't know — but thinLn 

 they can not. 



M'e can inform the editor and his correspondent that pea 

 nuts can be raised here. The son of the editor oi this pa- 

 per raised a small quantity in the garden last year, which 

 came to maturity previous to the middle of September. — 

 They were planted at the usnal time of planting in the 

 spring, and ripened before frost without being transplanted. . 

 This spring he planted a more extensive quantity, which 

 are doing well. — Batavia Advocate. 



The editor of the Advocate, or his son, will 

 oblige us by giving a detail of the process.— E». 



