80 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. i 
much to be regretted that fine pears were less known 
when the Indians inhabited the South, which is, of course, 
the re^on that we have so very few original Southern 
pears ; for there is no doubt, but that the apples have 
sprung from seeds of Northern varieties. This is, how- 
ever, a hint for us to try to raise new varieties from seed. 
When, years ago, large peach orchards were planted in 
Georgia, it was done for the mere purpose of feeding hogs 
and making peach brandy. But in the course of time 
these gave way to cotton. A new epoch for peach 
orchards is now dawning upon the South, and surely, for 
a more noble purpose, namely : of raising fine fruit for 
the table at home, as well as for the supply of Northern 
markets. In planting orchards, the people of the South 
have hitherto adapted the Northern method of training 
the trees up to high standards. This is evidently wrong. 
No one will deny, that we here in the South are wasting 
land at a terrible rate. In one instance only does the 
farmer seem to be sparing of his soil, and that is in the 
orchard. He cannot bear the idea of not being able to 
raise other crops in his orchard besides his fruit; to say 
nothing about the custom of regarding it as the common 
play-ground for his calves and mules; and for this reason 
he trims the trees up high, not considering the immense 
injury they thereby sustain. ■ Low trees with wide- 
spreading heads, is the only proper way in which to train 
the trees of a Southern orchard. 
Good fruit will always sell in the larger cities, and for 
the benefit of such as live in localities where there is con- 
venient access to these markets, I will here introduce a 
brief calculation : Planted at a distance of 20 feet, an acre 
will contain about 100 trees ; one bushel of fruit per, tree 
is but a low estimate, and one dollar clear money per 
bushel, a still lower calculatton. This, however, will 
give $100 per acre. What sort of crop can possibly yield 
a better revenue with equal labor'? 
Every person knows how easy it is to raise fine vegat- 
ables in the spring; but to have a good vegetable garden 
during all the seasons is more difficult. 
The great hsTticultural author, Loudon, says: ‘‘water 
is the iife and s©?!!! of a garden.” This is true in the 
North and in England. We of the sunny South, how- 
ever, must add one thing more to it, and that is shade. 
I do not mean the shade of trees, which is very injurious, 
inasmuch as these are drawing all the substance from the 
ground, often for twenty yards around them ; but I mean 
artificial shade. This can be made either by mulching 
'the ground all over 3 or 4 inches thick, with pine or oak 
leaves and in this way peas, snap-beans and other veget- 
. ables may be raised during the summer. Such kinds, 
however, as are more delicate while very young, as beets, 
^ cabbage-plants for fall- planting, and others may be raised 
under a kind of arbor of the easiest construction. A few 
: forked stakes put into the ground and crossed with green 
> oak sappling 4 or 5 feet above the surface, will afford a 
V shade sufficient to start any vegetables. By degrees these 
saap.pling may be lifted off, while the plants are gradually 
■'exposed to the sun. Here, too, it is matter of course, that 
the soil be always worked deeply and well manured, ii 
HOt naturally rich. 
Let us, therefore, be instructed by nature, and benefitted 
by following the fundamental principles of vegetable life; 
with pleasure let us ever seize the plow, and let the culti- 
vation of the soil, in the best manner possible, be our 
oonstant care. 
SOTJTH DOWN SHEEP. 
We copy the following article upon the characteristics 
of this valuable breed from a late number of “ The Wool 
Grower:'" 
This breed appears to be a native of the south of Eng- 
land. On the dunes or downs of Sussex, it has existed from 
the earliest times, always maintaining the same general 
characteristics. It has been greatly improved in respect 
to form and tendency to fatten, but these changes have 
been effected by selections from the original stock, and 
not by resorting to alien blcjod. It belongs to the class of 
“short- wooled” breeds, according to the rules which have 
been adopted in England. The wool of the South Downs 
was formerly among the finest produced by British breeds, 
being excelled in this respect, perhaps, only by that of the 
Ryelands. The average weight of fleece was rated at two 
and a half pounds. The color of the animals is white, 
with dark faces and legs, and it is no uncommon thing for 
the dusky shade to show itself on other parts of the body. 
This, however, is not considered an objection, but rather 
as indicating the aboriginal type. The old stock was con- 
sidered faulty in shape, though fattening well, giving mut- 
ton of superior quality, and reaching an average of sixteen 
pounds per quarter, when four years old. Like all ani- 
mals adapted to a hilly country, their fore quarters were 
light in proportion to the hind ones. This was not, pro- 
bably, a defect, considered in reference to the circum- 
stances in which the animals were naturally placed; it 
made them more active, and enabled them to travel over 
rough pastures with more facility. But they were often 
hollow at the chine, with sunken and narrow loins, and' 
an undu'e lightness of carcass for the height. 
The first important improvement in the breed was- 
made by JohnEllman, ofGlynde, in Sussex, towards the 
close of the last century. By a course of skillful breed- 
ing, he obtained a flock which attracted attention from all 
parts of the kingdom, and was the means of improving 
not only the South Downs generally, but other shovt- 
wooled breeds. He produced a symmetrical carcass, fit 
for market in half the time usually required to mature old 
stock, raised the weight from sixteen to twenty pounds a 
quarter ; preserving the fineness of the wool and some- 
what increasing the weight of fleece. His flock was held 
in such estimation, that in 1798 the Emperor of Russia 
bought two of his rams at the price of 300 guineas, the 
Duke of Bedford taking two others at the same price. In 
1829, when Mr. Ellman retired from business, and sold off 
his sheep at auction, 770 ewes varying from a year old to 
full-aged, averaged £3 Is. 6d. each , 320 lambs 3Gs. each; 
36 ramsi^25 each ; 32 rams illO each; .24.1 wether lambs 
21s. each; and one ram sold for 65 guineas. 
Following the footsteps of Ellman. and adopting his 
stock as a foundation, other breeders have obtained great 
celebrity. A symmetrical finish has been given to the 
carcass ; the chest has been widened and deepened ; the 
back straightened; the ribs expanded, and every part 
given its proportionate fullness. At the same time some- 
thing has been gained in the maturity of the animal, and 
the size, or rather the weight, still further increased. The 
carcasses frequently weigh 25 pounds per quarter, and 
sometimes upwards of 30 pourids.. A more important 
change has been made in the fleece. It formerly tended 
to become too thin and light, for a severe climate. It has 
been thickened and much increased in weight, though it 
is not so fine in staple. It is longer., and yearlings’ fleeces 
or those of fifteen or sixteen months’ growth, are some- 
times used for combing. With this change of fleece, the 
animal has acquired a better constitution. It has a more 
vigorous and hardy look than before. Whether it is, how- 
ever— with its remarkable compactness of form and great 
tendency to fatten — as well adapted to obtain a living from 
rugged pastures lightly covered with herbage, may be 
questioned. That it is better adapted, as an animal of 
profit, to the farmer, to improved land and good keeping, 
there is no doubt. It he^j been alleged that the quality of 
its flesh has deteriorated. It certainly would not be 
strange if the mutton o2the mckdorn improved South Down, 
