Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-05
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PROM THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE.
CONVENTION OF FARMERS. GARD
SrRS AND Silk CUI.TuEiSIS
THIRD DAY.

CONVENTION OF FARMERS, GARD
MFRS AND SILK CULTuEiSIs
---TuiRD DAY.
This body met Oct 10th at the Rooms OF
the American Institute in the Park. Gen.
Dearborn called the meeting to order. when
the Secretary read the Minutes ofthe last NEE
ting. Gen. DEARBORN then read a report IN
behalf OF the Committee on establishing Boz
tancal Garden in Florida. In the Report the
advantages Of acclimatng foreign and tropical
plants Were Treated Of and reference made 10
the Botanical Gardens of Paris, ST. Petersb0rga,
and Touion, and on the shores Of the Crimea.
II was suggested that the American Institute
be requested to memorialiZe Congress 70 adopt
such measures as may be deemed expedient
for the establishment Of an Experimental Bo-
tancal Garden in Florida--and that q CORES.
pondence be opened with all other Agicultu-
raj as well as Horticultural Societies, for the
pupose Of obtaining valuable Information. AT
the conclusion of the reading OF this paper the
Chairman rose, and in few complimentary
remarks, invited Ger. MERCER TO address
them on the climate OF Florida, as they were ON
the subject OF a Botanical Garden ia that region.
Gen. MERCER rose aud said he cheerfully
responded TO the request made on the part Of
the Convention. He had resided IN Florida
six years-but had, during those six years,
Travelled 5000 miles, and in all seasons Of the
year, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Therefore II was that he knew somewhat
about the climate Of that section Of the coun-
try, which is in extent the third State in the
Union. 1t has soil varying from the light
est sand and poorest kind Of land, TO the rich
est allayial. Its less adopted to Indian Corn
than almost any other production. The sea-
son is 100 warm for such aproduction OF that
staple as may be obtained in the more Northern
States. Bul Florida has many advantages
over other States in forests which never vary
their tempearature---in the Gulf Stream thai
runs by. almost hugging its shores, and BY the
proximity OF the sea. As to the fIosts there he
had never known vegetation TO be seriously
iniured--the orange and the delicate lemon are
never injured. But although these escape, wa
ter is in winter frozen SO that mug breaks Ly
the expansion. lie thought trial farm in Flor
ida practicable. In tcOuid, by degrees, be ac-
climated all the choicest and most useful trees
and plants of the earth, and undoubtedly great
Improvements might be made by superior cul-
tyation. Take the apple in our own region.
The magnificent proportions, two pounds
weight apiece in many instances, OF this fruit
sprang INTO existence from the crab-appie,
weighing not an ounce. lie then spoke Of
lGAAo anu 10 ieliuss S~C' ANO ppt1IAt 70 itNii'i
than that OF Texas, but the soil would not be
so well adapted as Florida for the establishment
Of Botanical Gardens-the land not being sha-
ded By large pine forests as in Florida--and
then the temperature changes soeasily in Tex
as; in ten minutes time MIR. MERoER had
known a change Of 40 degrees.
As to the grant Of land, he thought that in
the present temper Of Congress, nothing Of the
kind is 10 be hoped for. There are numbers
Of State-Rights men who argue that no inter.
ests but those ConsutGtionally declared should
be encouraged. But there IS a change ofopln-
ion coming about. said he; we have just had
specimen OF this change in pennsy lvania, who
now demands a repeal Of the new Tariff
But the Botanical Garden. That one could
be established in Florida for $500 he thought
clear And it could be cultivated by some of
our iTnmicrants--ihree OF four German fami-
lies, for instance, might be sent there, who
would be perfectly willing TO 90 for the sake
of a few acres of land each AS to the Tariff.
while in Congress he often voted against it,
but was afterwards made convert by one
trip to Massachusetts and two TO England
While preparing to leave Boston, on his return
home, a friend said to him, You must visit
Lowell before you 60. After much importu-
tunty he consented, and said that when he
came away and ever since he had considered
il most wonderful sight The cleanliness
and order OF eYerything, the streets seeming
as II he could dust them without soiing a cam
brio handkerchief, and the operatives in the
mills, all conspiTed TO give him favorable i'm
preston Of the effect Of the Tariff AS he
passed through the mills, some very pretty
girls looked up and very speedily looked down,
for they saw nothing to admirel Uaughier.)
From Lowell he visited Manchester, Stock
port and Birmingham in England and was
disappointed at the comparison lie would
not expatate upon the poverty Of the laboripg
classes there, but would say that he was fully
convinced OF the truth OF the reports made 10
Parliament. The Little water power used IN
England was touched upon by the speaker,
who then took up again the Tariff question,
which he further dwell upon, and closed by
reviewing the positions of WEBSTER and CAL
HoUs.
Judge Mics made remarks on the BotanI-
cal Gardens of France and the prospect for
their establishment in this country, saying that
the natures of plants are sometimes changed
on a change OF ciimate.--Col. CLARK corrobo-
rated this statement, citing as an instance the
Castoroil Bean, which on being transported TO
this county from lis native West Indies, |
changes its period Of maturity. DEAR
BORN made observations on Cotton and Sugar I
cane, and said thai perhaps there are more
plants as yet unknown that might be rendered !
useful 10 man. The animal kingdom will /
probably never yield more than il now does;
the aquatic furnishes principally oil and food !
Our common culinary vegetables belonging TO |
some warmer climate. and now progressing |
North, may finally become extinct, unless they |
are ransplanled 10 the sunny South. Gen. ID. /
closed b. adverung to the project Of memorial I
zng Congress for ant OF land for Gar
len. There is ground Tor us to make the effort
10 harm in asking, at all events. He
hought, however, there was enough Of pub
ic spirit and enterprise to have a Garden, and
n the words Of his friend, Gen. MERCER. he
you'd say. ave will have Botanical Gar
len in some way !"
Gen. MERCER said he had planted the soft
helled almond in Florida, and IT had succeed
d perfectly. lie then explained the influence
4 the shading trees Of Florida, which are al
Ways at one degree Of temperature.
DR.. UEpERHILL again took up the subject of
oxious influences OF the gases Of Brick yards, !