SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
255 
ing out the weak and crowded branches. But from the 
several branches diverging low down I had numerous 
crossing laterals, in spite of all efforts to the contrary, 
whereas, if the center shaft had been kept up strong, and 
laterals trained from it according to Kern’s plan, crossing 
laterals would have been prevented, and the tree would 
have been well balanced en all sides. The center shaft, 
with a low top and shortening in, I believe the true plan. 
The open center plan forces out on all sides separate 
branches like leaning trees, with the weight of wood and 
fruit all on one side. So does Downing’s plan in a less 
degree. Consequently the limbs under a moderate load 
either bend to the ground or split off ; and I have often 
been under the necessity of raising my peaches from the 
ground and supporting them with rails, as we support 
raspberries and blackberries. The vagueness of Down- 
ing’s directions led me into an error which he, with his 
experience, would have avoided. I shortened in thoroughly 
and kept my trees well down, but let them grow too much 
according to nature, as any new beginner would with 
such a guide. But my hard master— experience— has 
taught me a lesson. 
The book says that by cutting off half or two- thirds, 
annually, of the preceding year’s growth, the top may be 
kept low, the tree in full vigor and its life prolonged to 
thirty years. I did so, but one-third of every year’s 
growth being left, the tree went up higher and higher 
every year of course, though with less rapidity than it 
would have done had it not been shortened back. I per- 
mitted young shoots to start out low down, but they would 
not avail themselves of the permission, sure to grow one 
year and die. In the meantime the vigorous shoots were 
up at the top, I cut off large branches, a foot or two 
above the fork, but they would not produce new heads. 
The remaining branches took the sap and grew higher and 
higher. In my wrath I cut down some entirely, and be- 
gan to doubt the policy of trying to make peach trees 
thrive and bear well and remain young for thirty years. ’ 
And my doubts were strengthened last year by many of 
my old trees, of approved sorts, bearing worthless fruit, 
far inferior to the produce of tneir younger days. In the 
meantime. I kept young trees coming on, and was encour- 
aged in doing so by seeing last year that before the Fruit 
Grower’s Association of \Vestern New York, the question 
was propounded for consideration whether it is “a good 
practice to renew peach trees by heading them down.” 
Notwithstanding my ill-success. I incline to think that it 
is. This year I have cut back 'old trees variously, leaving 
■some with a single bare stump and others with more or 
less top, and their progress towards immortal youth is 
very flattering. I shall continue my experiments, and if 
you do not wish to be troubled with any more long yarns 
you can burn this at the stake. 
Now let me add one more word. Notwithstanding the 
above, I have liad excellent fruit, and professed Fruit Cul- 
turists have looked at ray trees and expressed their aston- 
ishment how I made them grow so finely. i 
L Wiindsor Smith. I 
Atlanta.^ Go,., June, 1857. I 
BI LiBOUS FLiOWER.S FOll THE .SOUTil. | 
Editors Southerx Cultivator— Tn some former nurn- | 
hers of your valuable periodical I gave a list of Ornament- 
al Trees and Shrubs, suited to our Southern climate. But 
our gardens should also comprise the most beautiful gifts of 
nature, pleasing to the eye by brilliant colors and singu 
lar forms, or filling the atmosphere with delicious fla- 
grance. 
True, Floriculture is but of limited interest and utility, 
compared to Horticulture ; still, nothing contributes more i 
to the beauty of a residence, or the lo'-efiness of an ham- ' 
ble cottage, than a well laid out, and nicely kept flower- 
garden. 
In fact, the love of flowers is natural to mankind. In 
the civilized world they have become indispensable to all 
important features of our life. The bride, as well as the 
corpse ; the returning hero, as well as the youth of both 
sexes, when assembling at a party; happy childhood and 
tottering, feeble old age, are all adorned with flowers ; to 
all they are the most beautiful and suitable emblems oh 
our feelings. Even the savage, in the joy of his heart,, 
surrounds his brow with the wild flowers of his forest. 
Men, however, are not always satisfied with these gifts 
of Providence in their natural state. By skill, persever- 
ance and high culture, they have improved their natural 
beauties wonderfully. Who would recognize the superb 
“ La Reine^'^ or the magnificent “ Souvenir de la Malraai- 
saw,” in the little single wild rose of our woods 1 
There is a class of flowers, which, in many respects, are 
so well suited to our Southern gardens, that I think it 
proper to say a few words about them. I mean the Bulbs. 
I will therefore begin by speaking of one of the first 
and loveliest beauties of our gardens, surpassed by none. 
It blooms with us in February and March, and perfumes 
the whole garden : 
THE HYACINTH — (hYACINTKUS ORIENTALIS.) 
Is a native of the Levant, where it grows on low, sandy 
places, and is but a small and single flower. It v/as first 
introduced and cultivated by the Dutch, as early as the 
beginning- of the sixteenth century. About the early part 
of the eighteenth century, the first double varieties sprung 
up, and created quite an excitement, for as much as .£200, 
or S990, is known to have been paid for one root, while a 
similar vaviet]?- may now be had for a dime. 
The cultivation of this and other bulbs is still carried on 
in Holland, particularly abemt Haarlem, which place has 
become v^orH-renovmed. Hundreds of acres are there 
planted v.fith bulbs, which grow in higher perfection there 
than any v/here else, and the bulbs of Haarlem form a very 
considerable article of commerce. 
Upwards of two thousand varieties of Hyacinths have 
been enumerated in catalogues, but, at present, a great 
many kinds have been rejected, and not much more than 
.four ’Hundred varieties are at present in cultivation. 
According to the rules laid down for the beauty of a 
first-rate Hyacinth, the stem should, be strong, tall, and 
erect, supporting numerous large bells (often filty or more) 
suspended horizontally, and the uppermost flower per- 
fectly erect, that the whole may form a regular pyramid. 
The colors should be clear and bright, and the fragrance 
delightful. Single hyacinths are as highly esteemed as 
double ones, and often more perfect and fragrant. In fact, 
many single kinds are better than double ones. Ever} - 
body, however, novv desires the double varieties, imagin- 
ing that the quality of being double consists in having- 
more bells, which is not the case ; very often it also hap- 
pens that single varieties are much more apt to bloom per- 
fectly than double ones. 
It is a very common complaint, that hyacinths are de- 
teriorating, and, in fact, by bad treatment they will do 
so the very first year ; and how could it be expected oth- 
eru'ise from the way in which they are treated % Flow- 
many persons can, and will, take the trouble which must 
be bestov/ed on them, in order to raise them in their full 
perfection I 
I will here give the conditions and rules for llieir pro- 
per treatment The situation should be rather I'ow, for 
the hyacinth is fond of dampness all the time. The soil 
should be sandy, and a bluisli-grey, or rather blackish 
sand, rather a little greasy to the feeling, is preferable. In 
preparing the hyacinth bed it should be excavated 
two feet deep (30 inches is better.) On the bottom of this 
excavated bed is put a layer of v:cV. nAied co-w manure. 
