270 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



probably never seen a single object calculated 

 to gratify the mind of a cultivated being : and 

 who can tell how much of the goodness and 

 kindness of our natures is attributable to the 

 beauty of the objects with which we are sur- 

 rounded 1 The sunny skies of Italy generate 

 a softness and gentleness that are proverbial, 

 whilst the clouded and smoky atmosphere of 

 London, is said to produce a rnoroseness that is 

 the prolific source of innumerable crimes, and 

 not unfrequently ends in self-destruction. 



Motives then of private policy and of public 

 good instigate us to add to the blessings of the 

 noblest political institutions that the world ever 

 saw, the additional enjoj^ment of a cultivated 

 and pleasing landscape. 



Are we to fight this battle alone? Is there 

 no true hearted son of the Old Dominion, who 

 will gird on his armor and help us to war against 

 this sordid love of pelf, or want of taste, which 

 prevents our homes from indicating to the pass- 

 ing traveller, the intelligence, the kindness, and 

 the refinement which we know frequently render 

 a shabby, old, unpainted domicil, where pillow 

 cases are substituted for window panes, the sanc- 

 tuary of the best affections of the human heart. 



There is one gentleman who has promised to 

 come to our aid, and who has intimated that he 

 would furnish us with a plan of dwelling better 

 adapted to our " peculiar institutions" than any 

 we have yet given to the public. We know his 

 ability, and long for his communication. 



For the Southern Planter. 



FRUIT TREES. 



Mr. Editor, — The time for planting out fruit 

 trees has now arrived, and no farmer who has 

 not }'et furnished himself with an orchard should 

 neglect the present season. ■ He owes it to him- 

 self, to his family, and to society to do so. What 

 is there which contributes more to comfort, en- 

 joyment, and health, than a good orchard'? — 

 There are few to be found who can say that 

 they are not fond of good fruit, and if that 

 should be true, surely no farmer would be willing 

 to deny to others such an enjoyment. But per- 

 haps some may say that they cannot afford the 

 expense. There are certainly but few who de- 

 serve the name of farmer, that cannot plant out 

 a moderate sized orchard, say fifty or one hun- 

 dred trees, which will cost him from fifteen to 

 twenty dollars per hundred, and so in proportion. 

 And if he can't plant out the whole number de- 

 sired, this fall and winter, let him make a be- 

 ginning, and add every year till he has an or- 



chard of the requisite size. Let it not be said 

 by any one, (as I have heard,) that I shall not 

 live to enjoy it. There is a selfishness in the 

 sentiment, of which we should be ashamed. — 

 We should live for others as well as for ourselves, 

 which is one of the dictates of Christianity as 

 well as of patriotism. Such is not the course 

 of our Northern friends, and see the result. In- 

 stead of supplying ovrselves with fruit, we are, 

 to our reproach, furnished from the North with 

 those varieties which can be transported. Let 

 eveiw farmer feel a pride, and so far consult his 

 own interest as to set about a change in this 

 matter. True economy requires it — comfort, 

 health, and every other consideration require it. 



To those who are inclined to enter upon the 

 enterprise, I would make a few remarks. Do 

 not from a false economy encumber your land 

 with worthless seedling trees. The expense of 

 good fruit trees, is comparatively trifling, and 

 will cost you no more to cultivate and rear them, 

 than the most indifferent scrubby seedlings. — 

 The difference in the value of the fruit of one 

 season, will more than make amends for the dif- 

 ference in expense. 



And while 1 am on this subject let me recom- 

 mend our own native Virginia nurseries. Why 

 should we go to the North for every thing? — 

 Our nurseries contain all the valuable fruits 

 which are to be found in the nurseries to the 

 North. These men live amongst us, why not 

 patronise them ? They are reliable men, who 

 would not deceive you — men in whom you 

 might confide to send such trees as you order. 

 It is rather calculated to move the indignation 

 of even a smooth tempered farmer, to find that 

 years after he has incurred the expense and 

 trouble, his trees prove worthless, which has 

 sometimes been my misfortune. 



The writer, from a knowledge of the gentle- 

 men, can recommend Joseph Sinton, near Rich- 

 mond, for his general and choice collection of 

 fruits — Thomas S. Pleasants, near Petersburg, 

 may also be relied upon to furnish peaches of 

 rare and choice varieties. There may also be 

 others who deserve confidence. 



The writer of this has no interest whatever 

 in any nursery. He has himself been at the 

 expense of hundreds of dollars to Northern nur- 

 series for his own use, and often been disap- 

 pointed in the varieties ordered, or the manner 

 in which they have been forwarded, by which 

 they failed to grow. Our own nurseries can 

 now furnish them more conveniently, — more 

 promptly, — more to be relied on, and with more 

 safety. 



Yours, respectfully, W. J. D. 



Petersburg, Oct. 23, 1844. 



Every gate-post on the farm should have an 

 auger hole bored in it, to be filled with grease 



