292 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
substance, particularly in the event of a war between this 
country and Europe, in consequence of which the supply 
would be cutoff. — Union. 
Fig Cuttings. — In addition to the cuttings before men- 
tioned, there have been imported from the south of France 
some choice varieties of the Fig. They are designed for 
experiment in Southern and southwestern States, where it 
is known that this product thrives well. As the fig is a 
great luxury, either in its green or dried state, we trust 
that before many years it will be multiplied to thatdegree 
which will render it as common in Southern markets as 
the orange or any other fruit. From some experiments 
made in Alabama, it is found that, with sufficient enter- 
prise and a judicious expenditure of capital, figs can be 
cultivated with great profit by drying, for the supply of 
■other States. 
THE ELOWEES OF TEXAS. 
The editor of the Texian Advocate thus describes the 
floral beauties of the forests. and prairies of that fertile 
region: 
Texas is emphatically the land of flowers ; and April is 
the month in which they exhibit their varied loveliness in 
the most ample profusion. Whilst it is necessary for the 
lovers of flowers in other climes to cultivate them careful- 
ly, to protect them from northern blasts and untimely 
frosts, our prairies, and even our wood lands are one vast 
flower-garden, of rare beauty and rich fragrance. Dur- 
ing the spring months, our wild flowers present a great 
variety of colors — red, violet and pink predominating. But 
as the season advances, and the sun’s rays become more 
intense, yellow and white become the prevailing colors, 
and are frequently so brilliant and numerous as to pain 
the eye of the traveller with the intensity of their dazzling 
splendor. 
We love flowers. Theyare intimately associated in our 
remembrance with a happy period of existence, 'when all 
scenes were delightful — when the stern realities of life 
were unexperienced and unknown. 
“ ’Twas a lovely thought to mark the hours 
As they floated in light away. 
By the opening and the folding flowers 
That laugh to the summer’s day. 
Oh ! let us live, so that flower by flower, 
Shutting in turn may leave 
A lingerer still for the sunset hour, 
A charm for the shaded eve.” 
Plants in a Bed-Eoom. — Mr. D. Beaton, in the Cottage 
Gardener, remarks that ‘'although it is quite true that plants 
do vitiate the air of a room to comparatively a- fractional 
degree, it is equally well ascertained that they consume 
and destroy a very great deal of foul .air ; and that with- 
out foul air, such as would kill a man, plants could not 
be kept alive at all. We gardeners know this fact from 
every day experience ; we cannot grow plants so well, or 
so quickly, in the sweetest air, as in a stinking, hotbed. 
All the animal creation vitiate the common air every time 
each one breaths the breath of life, or life-sustaining air, 
and were it not that all the vegetable kingdom depends on 
this vitiated air for part of theis subsistence, and a great 
part, tod, -this, wmuld have been at an end as soon as ani- 
mals covered the ’face of the earth. Therefore, and with- 
out the shadow of a doubt, plants are the best purifiers of 
all the agents that have yet been known to cleanse the 
air of^a bed room, or any other room in a house, provided 
always that such plants are not in bloom, or at least do 
not bear bloom wdth a strong scent.” 
WORKING GIRLS. 
The Pittsfield (Mass.) CuUurist takes a practical and 
Yankee-like view of this very desirable “institution 
“ Happy girls ! who cannot love them 1 with cheeks 
like the rose, bright eyes, and elastic step, how cheerful 
they go to work. 
“ Our reputation for it, such girls will make excellent 
wives. Blessed, indeed, will those men be who secure 
such prizes. Contrast tliose who do nothing but sigh all 
day and live to follow the fashions ; who never earn the 
bread they eat, or the shoes they wear ; who ore languid 
and lazy from one week’s end to the other. Who but a 
simpleton and a popinjay would prefer one of the latter, 
it he were looking for a companion. Give us the working 
girls. They are worth their weight in sold. You never 
see them mincing along, or jumping a dozen feet to steer 
clear ofa spider or fly ; they have no affectation, or silly 
airs, or trying to show off to better advantage, and you feel 
as if you were talking to a human being, and not to a 
painted 0 / fallen angel. If girls knew how sadly they 
miss it, while they endeavor to show off their delicate 
hands and unsoiled skins, and put on a thousand airs, 
they would give worlds for the situation of the working 
ladies who are so far above them in intelligence, in honor, 
in everything, as the heavens are above the earth. Be 
wise, then, you who have made fools of yourselves throuo-h 
life. Turn ov^r a new leaf, and begin, though late, to 
live like human beings ; as companions to immortal men, 
and not as playthings and dolls. In no other way can 
you be happy, and subserve the designs of your exist- 
ance.” 
Corn Cake.— A special premium was awarded to Mrs. 
Charles W. Wampole, at the late Fair of the Montgomery 
County Agricultural Society for a corn cake, made after 
the following recipe: 
“Take the whites of 8 eggs ; one-fourth pound each of 
corn starch, flour and butter ; half pound sugar; one tea- 
spoonful of cream of tartar ; half teaspoonful of soda. 
Flavor with almond to suit the taste.” 
SiintrtiBfmeiitii. 
FRIITLAISD 1^!JRSEE¥. 
THE Subscriber offers for Fall and Winter Planting (1855-C) 
the following desirable articles : 
APPLE, PEAR, PEACE, APRICOT, NECTARINE, PLUM 
AND CHERRY trees, a limited number of rare and superior 
sorts mostly propagated by himself and worked on Southern seedling 
stocks. Prices— Apple and Peach trees, 25 cents each ; Apricot, 
Nectarine, Pear, Plum and Cherry trees, 50 cents. 
KGS— Four or five choice varieties, including the Celestial, Ati- 
cnfnt, Blno.k Genoa, Ac., &c., 5u cents each. 
GRAPES —The genuine Catawba, from the Ohio vineyards; also 
Weller’s &c. 5" cents each. 
QUINCES— The Orange variety, well rooted and strong plants, at 
25 cents. 
STRAWBERRIES— More than thirty varieties, including all the 
most desirable. (See separate advertisement of select sorts, in pre- 
sent number.) Prices, from |1 to .$3 per hundred. 
BLACKBERRRIES— The genuine New Koche’le or “Seacor'a 
Mammoth.” Berries of extra size and flavor. Well rooted plants at 
50 cents e&ct), 
POMEGRANATES— The sub-acid, or sweet variety, at 25 and 
50 cents each, according to size. 
OSAGE ORANGE PLANTS EOR HEDGING--^ large quan- 
tity of vigorous plants, of 1 a'nd 2 years growth, af $5 to $8 per 
thousand. 
OSIER OR BASKET WILLOW- Cuttings of the famous 
Beveridgii at $10 per thousand, or $2 per single hundred. Also, the 
Viroinalls, at .$5 per thousand, or $1 per hundred. 
Orders will also be rereived for choice ROSES, ORNAMENT- 
AL SHRUBS and TREES, EVERGREENS, VINES, GREENHODSB 
PLANTS, .?c.,&c. Address D REDMOND, 
Sep55— tf Augusta, Ga. 
