No. 151.] 233 



Gen, D. made some remarks upon the prospective utility of such 

 a garden, and invited Hon. C. F. Mercer, of Virginia, to address 

 the convention, saying that Gen. Mercer had resided several years 

 in Florida, was conversant with the experiment of Dr. Perrine, and 

 at present cultivated as an amateur an extensive garden in Virginia^ 

 of which commonwealth he was one of the ablest statesmen. 



Gen. Mercer rose, and said he was deeply indebted for the com- 

 pliment of the honorable chairman. " I have resided in Florida,'" 

 said he, " about six years, in every variety of season, and can speak 

 with some certainty of its soil and climate. Though not a constant 

 resident, it has been my home. Florida in point of territory, is the 

 third State of the Union. It extends from 26 degrees to 3 1 degrees 

 of North latitude, comprising every variety of soil, from the lightest 

 and most barren sands to the richest hammocks, whose fertility is 

 unparalleled. One peculiarity of this State is that its forests never lose 

 their leaves; which perennial verdure, combining with the influence 

 of the Gulf Stream on one coast, and the ocean on both, preserves 

 an equality of temperature unknown to inland regions. Frosts are 

 seldom or never known to injure vegetation in winter. Some in- 

 stances have occurred near Tallahassee of injury to orange trees by 

 late spring frosts, owing to the proximity of the southern spur of 

 the Alleghanies. Such a country, it will be seen, offers excellent 

 advantages for ' trial farms,' as we in the South call them. Let the 

 great empire state establish there her botanic garden or trial farm, 

 and other States will soon imitate the good example; and in this 

 great southern garden almost all plants may be acclimated or natu- 

 ralized. We have scarce a single fruit in its natural state. Our 

 splendid apples of two pounds weight came by cultivation from the 

 miserable little crab-apple. Our grapes, of a size and flavor most 

 excellent, came by proper care from a like insignificant parent. 

 These grapes, which in England forty years ago brought four shillings 

 sterling per pound, are now sold for one shilling. Into this great bo- 

 tanical garden, and similar ones in other latitudes, we can introduce 

 valuable native plants from all parts of the world. For instance, 

 the wild rice, rye, and anniseed of Texas; which state, wooded with 

 deciduous trees, mostly an elevated prairie, lying exposed to the cold 

 blasts from the Rocky Mountains, where a change in a few hours 

 of 40 degrees Fahrenheit often occurs — is highly unfavorable to ve- 

 getable perfection. Yet the botany of Texas is of the richest de- 

 scription. In regard to a grant of land, I think from the present 

 state of the country, and opinions of our government, little or noth- 

 ing can be expected from Congress. The influence of States Rights 



