334 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
«s to recommend the use of one ton of the xMexican to half 
ft ton of the Peruvian as better price and composition con* 
sidered, than either separate. The Mexican gives the 
necessary phosphates and some potash and ammonia, 
while the Peruvian is rich in ammonia, and not wholly 
destitute of bone earth and alkalies. Our cities abound in 
elements of the best guano, which are now thrown away 
as a nuisance ; but which ought to be returned to the 
soil whence they were taken. Public opinion needs en- 
Kghtenment on this interesting subject. Let all fecal mat- 
lers in villages and cities be viewed in a proper light, 
and the improvement of land by feeding and clothing the 
denizens of towns would no longer bring discredit on 
American agriculture. Every animal that eats food drawn 
from the earth should, in some way, make adequate resti- 
tution to the soil that supports him, L. 
BEES AND HONEY. 
Iditors Southern Cultivator— I am much pleased 
with the cut of Mr. V. LaTaste’s Apiary, in your Sept 
number, and I hope some people will be induced to lay 
aside their old slovenly, unprofitable and bee-destroying 
•ourse of neglect, and adopt one worth of the astonishing 
ingenuity and returning profits of the Honey Bee. 
I really supposed I had answered Mr LaTaste’s inter- 
yogatory, but he thinks not, and he again puts other inter- 
logatories, which might equally (if answered,) prove un- 
satisfactory; beseems to think his questions ought to 
have satisfied me of ray error; but questions do not usu- 
ally embody strong arguments, or facts: and as 1 iliink, 
Ihe spirit of controversy has entered bis remarks, I must 
here, define what I meant, when T promised to answer 
any questions on bee raising; which was, to give infor- 
mation to those who in good faith desired ii : and believ- 
ing that a set controversy would do no good, 1 respect- 
fully decline it. But ! would say, to fiiend LaTaste, that if 
he should ever come out West, give me a call ; and we will 
finish our controversy between ourselves; when 1 have 
no doubt, he will get a sound, but very welcome and hos- 
pitable drubbing. Now having declined controversy, 1 will 
add a few remarks, as a farther explanation of former re- 
marks. Bees do positively collect poilen from flow> rs,as 
long as flowers last, to feed their young on ; this J know, 
from close observation. They also raise large num*>ers of 
young bees, at all seasons of the year, while flowers last : 
But in March, (by far the greatest blooming monih iii the 
year,) is the main month for bees to raise about thiee-fo! i 
their usual number, preparatory for swarming; and dur- 
ing this month, the hives generally become ligiuer ; this 
J know, from foquent weighing; yet (he weight of liees 
are much increased; and I regard this, as clear proof, that 
bees collect but little, “ if any ’’ honey from fli)vsmi.s 
Again, I know by repeated weighing, at the lime hives 
generally become grown, when flowers are scarce, com 
pared to March, that bees then collect honey rapidly, and 
then bees pay less attention to flowers ; which two facts 
again prove, that bees collect but little, “ if any ” honey 
from flowers. Again; last March, the great flowering 
month, bees were so imroverished of honey, that many 
hives died in April, in this region. 
Honey Dew, being the perspiration of leaves, gives va- 
lied taste to honey, according to soil, climate and variety 
®f vegetation. All sweets in the honey stomach of the bee, 
andergo a change and are emitted in the cell, improved 
to honey, but not divested emirely of their oiigin- 
al quality: so says every author I have read on the sub 
Ject. t M. T. McGehee. 
Mount Elha^ Ark.^ SeptS657. 
THE PHIEOSOPHY OF SUBURBAN COTTAGB^ 
Homes. 
Editors Southern Cultivator— The Suburban Cot 
has its indiosyncracies — its ethics, its philosophical affilia- 
tions, as well as that more abstruse study of human na- 
ture — with its metaphysical bambooos, upon which mod- 
ern savans float to exalted sand-bars. 
Man is essentially a seeker after happiness. Most men 
pursue the Ignis fatuus, in the fashion consonant to their 
individual conceptions, which are materially controlled 
by the prejudices of early education. 
Immense wealth is the cynosure of one man’s ambition. 
Profound knowledge, surpassing erudition, a subtlety in 
the mysterious alchemy of this soul, engrosses the mind 
of another. A reckless disregard of the conventionalities 
of society and a passion for pernicious vices, find occu- 
pation and a premature grave for a third — to travel the 
earth to its most obscure “ corners ” — to revel in 'he lux- 
urious tropics, — to ascend the highest mountains, and ex- 
plore the deepest chasm — to converse with nation, 
and revisit home, tottering with accumulated )ears — fros- 
ted o’er with the chilling touch of time, consuiaates the 
terreslial career of a fourth. All have accomplished the 
goal of their aspirations. Still that uliima thdc of happi- 
ness is unatiained. The grey twilight of the eve of life 
gathers and thickens around us; gloomy clouds portentioua 
of mystery, intercept the nebulae of our waning star» 
The skeleton of the garneler of life is dimly seen in the 
distance, speeding his desolating course — memory is 
busy with the past, scenes, events, long forgotten — almost 
obliterated — are exhumed, and stand arrayed against the 
present ; brightest amongst these latent remnisences is the 
home of '‘hildhood. The talisman protecting our virtues 
correcting our moral divi rgencies, soothing hours of ad- 
versity, and now, sweetly lulling us in the grvat last re- 
pose. We again enjoy our cottajde home in the country — > 
iirtt f glimpse of Paradise — with its neat front yard, its 
single tree rising cool and refreshing from a gnarled trunk, 
oloreri morning-glories bursting into life and love- 
liness from the womb of nigiit, dispensing beamy for 
few fleeting tiours, th«n w'ithering and transniigrafing into 
the etnhryos of prospective morning-glories, to reappear ia 
replenished iinr.s Roses rampant, scathing walls, peeping 
ii.!{) collage windows, twinim; round veranda pillars, 
flauniing in the prolific of bloom, redolent of 
niiar of roses; happy, exuberant ros«s. irrevo.-alily inter- 
lacing the cotliige home v, idi riur pure thoughts and pleas- 
ant memories ; and herein lies the philosopiiy. I’hemaa 
wl'io builds for himself and house hold gods, a tasteful 
house, and perpeai (tc.^ on his ground j lot, luscious fruits, 
flowing fli wars and lowing heids, possesses eb of happi- 
ness ttia- earth can offer, and entaibs on his children, rem- 
niscetices that will jirove safe guiding stars in all theifr 
future jiiigrimage. 
1'he idiosyncraeif s of rural architecture comprise po- 
lity of design, adaptiott to individual n quirtments, and 
••onvejiience lor subsequent purposes. Consonance and 
fidelity to contiguou.s scenery, general expiess-ion, as an 
. ri ot beauty and taste. To inamtiiin llifc individuality of 
these various St quisites, and not disparage the harmony 
necessary to peitVcl enmpieteness, solicits more ability 
than is bequeathed to the majoriiy of so ca led arehilecls, 
A very beatiiitn! metropolitan building would appear ex- 
ceedingly awkw'ard transferred to tlie country. Thecity 
edifice needs no other exinnal ernbellisiimeni than is ex- 
hibited on its fagade. Au contraire, the ruial domicile 
would be in unpardonable taste if denied ornamentation 
ot its side and rear elevuiiojts. What is understood by 
decoration, is not the multiplying of brat kt ts and cor- 
nices and sucli ephemera, but orn.ite effects and palpal>Ia 
expression secured by bold projectitins, broken and pictu- 
resque sky line^ artistic distribution of light and shade 
