422 [Assembly 



live than the Spanish, and one of the red more so than the yams. 

 The Buif Spanish, (the kind I am raising,) is as far superior in 

 quality, to the yams, or reds, as your improved grafted fruits are 

 to the common seedling, and so pronounced by all who have ate 

 of them. I began ten years since, by selecting five bushels, as the 

 hands were gathering some two to three thousand bushels, and 

 have continued to select the seed, every one with my own hands^ 

 each two or three years, until I thiBk they have no superior. If 

 you are planting, and think the Spanish variety would succeed in 

 your climate, it would afford me pleasure in sending a barrel of 

 seed to your direction. Having never sold any, but given away 

 hundreds of bushels, you need not fear their being puffed for sale^ 

 as too many (said to be) improved seeds are. 



As I remarked in th^ beginning, I am unused to writing. You 

 will therefore condense what I have written to suit yourself. 



High manuring^ deep and thorough cultivation, and an earlf 

 starts on a sandy soil, is the secret of my success. 



Most respectfully yours, 



EDWARD T. SHEPHERD. 



Columbus, Ga., January 20, 1855. 

 H. Meigs, Esq. 



Dear Sir — Yours, enclosing Japan peas, came duly to hand, 

 for which please accept my thanks. Enclosed I send you the 

 genuine orange water melon seed. This melon is cultivated in 

 all respects like the common melon, bat it must not be planted 

 near any of the melon family, or it will lose its peeling qualities. 

 When ripe just cut through the skin as you do an orange, and 

 the rind will come off without breaking the pulp. After which, 

 by cutting between the lobes you may divide it without showing 

 a seed, and it is not only beautiful but delicious. 

 Very respectfully yours, 



CHAS. A. PEABODY. 



Esq. 



Dear Sir — Yours of the 27th ult. and Japan peas came safe. 

 Please accept my thanks, and a few seeds of my winter grass. It 



