62 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
TAN 26 
f 
A SUMMER OUTING IN THE NORTH 
CAROLINA MOUNTAINS. 
VI. 
MART WAGER-FISHER. 
The home of a “ very intelligent woman;'’ 
a laurel jungle; uses made of choice 
woods; intellectual and social resources 
of a mountain tour. 
The house was quite a little distance 
from the road, and while Jim was gone on 
his errand of inquiry I had time to look 
over the place—a large fore-ground shaded 
with tall oaks, vegetable and flower gar¬ 
dens, a weather browned house of the 
simplest construction, but which in being 
“ added on to ” had grown into artistic and 
picturesque proportions. It was roofed 
with shingles and had “ civilized ” win¬ 
dows. A tall outside chimney was wreathed 
in vines to the very top, and marked tidi¬ 
ness was everywhere visible. We had been 
seven hours on the road, and I was so tired 
that I felt that if Jim returned with a 
negative report I should be overcome with 
home-sickness. But he came back care¬ 
lessly whistling, opened a wide gate, said 
that was the place, and proceeded to drive 
in. We were a gay-looking load, for the 
trunk, with its ropes and straps, was stuck 
high with flowers gathered on the way. 
Our host and hostess came out with cordial 
greeting and we were speedily made to feel 
at home. We found a pleasant sitting- 
room with a piano and books, a large, open 
wood fire, in the vine-wreathed chimney, 
our chambers were furnished with every 
needed comfort, and when we went down 
to an early supper we found an exquisite 
table, with fine napery, flowers, and an ex¬ 
cellent beefsteak—broiled tender and juicy. 
That so much comfort and taste should be 
found combined in a modest home4,000 feet 
up in those mountains, gradually became 
explained. Our host was a New York 
State farmer, and his wife was an English 
gentlewoman of perfect breeding and un¬ 
usual intelligence and culture. Her deli¬ 
cate health, a dozen years before, had ne¬ 
cessitated a milder and softer climate, and 
hearing winsome tales of' the atmosphere 
of Highlands—a town then but just begun— 
she had hither come, and had fully re¬ 
covered her health. 
At the foot of a slope from the south 
front of the house was a laurel "jungle,” 
covering perhaps two acres of ground, and at 
the time of our arrival—the 19th of June—it 
was an almost solid field of bloom—a mag¬ 
nificent sight. About half the laurel was 
rhododendron, which came into bloom 
later, so that for weeks the blossoming of 
this evergreen mass was a beautiful thing 
to see. A small, clear, cold stream ran 
through it, one of the head-waters of the 
Tennessee, and this at once became and 
continued to be for nearly a month, the 
laddie’s play-ground. He constructed dams, 
and waterfalls, built water-wheels and 
boats, and explored every nook and cranny 
of the jungle, out of which shot up high 
above the laurel some superb hemlocks 
and showy magnolias. 
As soon as I had recovered from the fa¬ 
tigue of the journey and had become in a 
degree acclimated—which was a tardy 
achievement—I could no longer resist the 
lad’s appeals to go with him through the 
jungle, which was for the most part acces¬ 
sible without going on all fours, or crawl¬ 
ing fiat on the ground, which are true 
jungle requirements. The appearance of 
the jungle throughout was that of a banyan 
forest, as seen pictured. True, the laurel 
does not in fact send down branches which 
root upon reaching the ground; but the 
slender boles of the trees, from 20 to 30 feet 
in length, reach out, branch and so inter¬ 
lace as to present the appearance de¬ 
scribed. The branches crossing and re¬ 
crossing each other, frequently become so 
grown together at the crossing places as to 
render separation difficult and even impos¬ 
sible, except by cutting, and this also oc¬ 
curs between the laurel and rhododendron. 
The mountaineers call the laurel “ivy,” 
and in some places the jungles are called 
“ hells.” They are cool and mossy places, 
and the leaves form such a thicket over¬ 
head that very little sunshine flickers 
through. 
The boles of the trees—they here seem to 
be as much tree as shrub—are often a foot 
or more in diameter near the base, while 
the clump at the bottom forms mossy, 
gnarled roots, that furnish when intelli¬ 
gently utilized, an extremely beautiful and 
ornamental wood. A great deal of this ma¬ 
terial has been burnt in making clearings, 
and more will be until capital and facilities 
are furnished for protecting and utilizing 
it. And the wanton destruction of valua¬ 
ble woods all through these mountains is 
deplorable, the natives themselves having 
no idea that trees are anything more than 
a nuisance to be well rid of. If the chest¬ 
nuts on a fine tree are wanted, they cut the 
tree down in order to get them, and cherry 
trees two to three feet in diameter are 
none too good for fire-wood, if near enough 
to the cabin door. 
And the same lower down the mountains, 
is true in regard to black walnut, now al¬ 
most as valuable as mahogany. At High¬ 
lands sufficient intelligence, enterprise and 
capital have been brought together within 
the past year or two,to begin the utilization 
of the choicer woods in the manufacture of 
furniture, and of panels and veneering for 
artistic interiors. If means of transporta¬ 
tion were less difficult, the region probably 
long ere this would have become the center 
of a great furniture manufacturing busi¬ 
ness, because of the almost endless supply 
of suitable materials. It was a matter of 
much interest, as time passed, and we be¬ 
came more and more acquainted with the 
resources of Highlands, to note the versa¬ 
tility of talent comprehended in the 200 
to 300 souls that comprised its per¬ 
manent population, the majority of whom 
were of Northern or Western birth, and 
who had drifted hither to be mended bodily 
by the healing quality of this mountain air. 
Of two carpenters, brothers, both with a 
taste for botanical research, the elder is so 
accurate and well versed in the flora of 
the region as to be held in high esteem by 
scientific men of eminence. They both 
illustrate in a modest way the distinction 
that the pursuit of some scientific study 
confers upon men who earn their living by 
manual labor. Two or three women, also 
were well up in a knowledge of plants. 
One of them from New England had done 
beautiful work in microscopical drawing 
and was such an excellent draughtsman, 
to make designs for furniture or buildings, 
that workmen could accurately follow. 
Four young men, almost if not entirely, 
self-taught formed a very creditable musi¬ 
cal quartette. 
One lad now 17, had been in the nursery 
business since he was 12 years old. His 
specialty is the native flora—kalmias, 
rhododendrons, azaleas, Leucothoe, Sour- 
wood (a beautiful small tree) Halesia (Silver 
Bell) new lilies of the mountains, magno¬ 
lias, ferns, pitcher plants, Venus’s fly-trap, 
etc., etc. He has the faculty of taking 
woody things from their native habitats 
and making them grow in a new place, and 
he supplies, so far as he can, orders from 
nurserymen and private individuals in the 
North and West for this class of plants. He 
was unmistakably born for his work, has a 
keen love for it, and it is charming to take 
a tournee with him in his little plantation 
and hear him talk of his growing things, 
in his unaffected, honest-hearted way. I 
think many a farmer’s lad or lassie might 
turn an honest penny by devoting a small 
corner of ground to seedling trees, such as 
are easily grown, and for which there is al¬ 
ways some demand. Then Highlands has 
a floral club, which gives very pretty flower 
shows, and devotes the proceeds thereof to 
improving a park in the way of making it 
not only a pleasure ground, but also a 
botanical garden, and to erect in it a hall j 
for meetings and exhibitions. The burden 
of this falls upon a few women, and before 
the botanical garden amounts to much, 
many of the native plants in the immediate 
neigiiborhood will have been exterminated. 
Very few men, even with their professed 
business instincts, have any appreciation of 
the commercial value in a botanical garden. 
The town also has a dramatic club, which 
gives entertainments—no geniuses may be 
in it—but all these things show an admir¬ 
able disposition to make the most of re¬ 
sources, which in a less isolated place would 
in all probability remain undeveloped. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
M CMULLEN WOVEN WIRE FENCE. 
—For many farms and gardens this 
is the very best fence that can be provided. 
Before you put up a new fence you had 
better see about this one. This material is 
largely in use and gives excellent satisfac¬ 
tion. Write for circulars to the McMullen 
Woven Wire Fence Co., Chicago, Ill. 
Hood’s Calendar.— Of all the ideal 
faces that adorn advertising cards and cir¬ 
culars, that of the little girl who represents 
Hood’s idea of perfect health is the 
brightest and sweetest. In fact, the R. N.- 
Y. does not believe it is an ideal face. It 
seems more like the face of some real little 
girl. It is a beautiful picture and the 
calendar part of it is very handy and com¬ 
prehensive. It is sent for 15 cents by C. I. 
Hood & Co, Lowell, Mass. 
French Coach Horses, Shetland 
Ponies, etc. —Catalogues from Savage & 
Farnum, Detroit, Michigan. Excellent 
specimens of thoroughbred and grade ani¬ 
mals of various breeds are offered at very 
reasonable rates. Savage & Farnum wish 
to dispose of all their live stock dur¬ 
ing the next three months, so it is probable 
that purchasers will be able to obtain 
special bargains. 
Fruit Baskets. —Catalogue from The 
Michigan Basket Factory, St. Joseph, 
Michigan. This reliable firm offers a full 
assortment of packages as well as materials 
and tools needed in their manufacture. 
Safety Lantern Holder.— This ap¬ 
pears to be a device for fastening a lantern 
to the wagon so that it will be out of the 
way and at the same time afford the proper 
light. The Safety Lantern' Holder Co. 
Baltimore, Md. 
Cleveland Nursery Co.—The catalogue 
of this company contains pictures of sever¬ 
al new strawberries which are highly 
praised. The Mrs. Cleveland Strawberry 
is well spoken of by some of our best grow¬ 
ers. Send for this catalogue. 
Advance Hay Tedder.— This is called 
“ the most perfect article of its kind made.” 
In the next picture of farm tools which the 
R. N.-Y. is to print, this tedder will be 
seen. Wait till you see what is said about 
it by the man who owns the tools. In the 
meantime send for a circular to the Ann 
Arbor Agricultural Co., Ann Arbor, Mich¬ 
igan. 
Western Washer.— It is claimed that 
20,000 of these washers were sold during 
1888. Nothing but a first-class article 
could reach such a sale as that. Anything 
that saves labor for the housewife should 
be obtained if possible. Send for the cir¬ 
cular of this machine to Horton M’f’gCo., 
Fort Wayne, Indiana. 
Darnell’s Furrower and Marker.— 
Several farmers near the R. N.-Y. farm use 
this handy little implement and find it 
very useful and convenient. It is of special 
value to potato-growers. In fact, it is very 
important to successful farming. Send to 
H. W. Doughten, Moorestown, Burlington 
County N. J., for circular. 
PisrcUancmt.o' 
PERCHERON 
HORSES 
AT BARGAINS! 
We mean exactly what we say. We have 116 Head Imported 
and Pure Rred Stallions and Mares, 6 French loach Stallions, 36 Head 
of Grade Stallions and Mares, 20 Shetland and Exmoor I'onies, and 
27 Head Kegistered Holstein Cattle, must be disposed of during this 
season, owing to changes in our business. If you think of buying 
write us (describing what you want) for our Catalogue and Prices, 
and we will convince you that it will pay you well to buy of us. 
Island Home Stock Farm. SAVAGE & FARNUM, Detroit, Mich. 
aJ 
I 
t- 
SCIENTIFIC m MILL 
THE BEST MILL ON EARTH 
CRINDS EAR CORN, SHUCKS ON OR OFF,’ 
and all small Grains, in fact everything ■which can possibly be utilized for Feed. Has 
QlirCTV DHTTfiM and Other practical devices, to prevent breakage, 
OHfL I I DU I I U III in case iron should accidentally get into the Mill. 
Reversible, Self-sharpening Q I II n I |U A Q| A TPO Sold on trial. AllMills 
Double capacity of all others. U li I HI UI N U I LW I CO fully guaranteed. Send for catalogue. Address 
THE FOOS MANUFACTURING COMPANY. SPRINGFIELD. OHIO, 
NEW 
II. S.S GRINDER 
-The Most Complete MOWING 
MACHINE KNIFE GRINDER made 
Small, Light. Weighs only 13 pounds. Can be carried 
into the field, and at- — tack ed to Mowing Ma^ 
chine Wheel. 
ENTIRELY 
NEW. 
C LARK’S 
UTAWAY HARROW 
SUPERSEDES the PLOW! BEATS the WORLD! 
Ground Made into a PERFECT SEED BED. 
has A SEEDING ATTACHMENT for 
SOWING ALL KINDS OF GRAIN. 
Send for New Circular, with full description, FREE. 
HIGGANUM MAN’F'G CO. 
HIGGANUM. CONN.: 189 and 191 WATER STREET. NEW YORK. 
PEERLESS CREAMERY 
Absolute Perfection 
for Best Quality Butter. 
R UTTER W ORKER 
AlnoCHURNS. POWER BUTTER WORK¬ 
ERS, PRINTERS, SHIPPINC BOXES. 
Send for my Hlus. Catalogue of New and Valu¬ 
able CREAMERY PLAN and valuable in¬ 
formation for Dreamery men and Butter Factories. 
CREAMERY SUPPLIES. 
> 30th and Market Streets. PHILADELPHIA. PA. 
Plants, Roses, Shrubs,! 
fl r r H O Fruit and Ornamental 
otLUo Tr s e ^!iWs v Jt n c e . s ’ 
EVERYTHING IN THE NURSERY LINE. 
RAREST NEW. CHOICEST OLD. 
Send ten cents for our illustrated catalogue of 
about 150 pages, containing a certificate good for 
ten cents m seeds, etc. Or send for our 32 page 
abridged catalogue and price-list free. 
36 years. 24 greenhouses. 700 acres. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Painesville, Ohio. 
mm 
