Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-11-21
For the Standard.
RALEIGH N. G., Nov. 14th, 1860.


RALEIGH N. G., Nov. 18th, 1860.
DEAR sIR: The Il. G. Standard of this day con-
tains letter signed s. w. Westbrook for West
brook and Mendenhall In this letter the commit
tee on fruits and fruit trees at the late State Fair
are accused of giving unjust decision, and many
illusions are made to Mr. Westbrook's competitor
and his trees. As the public we'll know that l was
his competitor at the Fair it is but simple act Of
justice to my business, that reply.
Of the five judges, am acquainted with but three.
One OF them has probably bought and planted more
fruit trees than any man North Carolina. Anoth-
er is the of Of the most select orchards in
the State and takes great interest in all relating to
fruits and trees The other IS quite an amateure in
fruit trees, and upon the whole, no better judges
could have been selected l consider them much
better qualified to judge trees than Mr.. Westbrook
himself | have no desire to commence newspa-
per war on any subject neither do covet any man
his success am trying to make support for my
family in quiet peaceful manner, and by industry
and justice shall endeavor to do it without troub
ling any one but cannot silently pass over this at
tack of Mr.. Westbrook, without giving the public
few facts in reply.
competitor at the State Fair, Thos Lndley of Chat
ham Co.. and as long Lindley kept the field, be-
lieve he invariably got the best premiums on fruit
trees. After Lindley quit, Mr.. Westbrpok had no
competitor for some time-so took the premiums
without opposition. At the Fair of 1858, Hamilton
and Carter (of which was one of the firm became
his competitor, and took more than half the pre-
miums. At this Fair Mr.. Hamilton also insisted up
on Mr.. Westbrook's trees being uupacked and ex-
hibited, this made Mr.. Westbrook mad, and l be-
lieve he has had good will to the Raleigh Nurse
ry since, Furthermore, believe this was the only
Fair where the roots of Westbrooks trees were
seen. At the fair of 1859, as successor to Hamil
ton and Carter, was his only competitor. exhibited
much larger variety of trees than he did, but got
no premium because was not personally present,
at least one of the judges told me so. At this Fair,
l exhibited the finest plum trees raised in
North Carolina, and very fine apple and apricot
trees. As my competitor got all the premiums at
| this Fair, he silent about who had the largest
variety yet did not make fuss about it. After the
Fair over both Mr. Wcstbrook and his main
spring. made efforts to sell his trees on the ground,
and believe unsuccessfnlly yet sold all my trees
at full price without making an effort to do SO. This
tells the tale
At the last Fair, 1860 I did not intend to exhibit
any trees but two or three days before the Fair,
of the managers requested ME to do so. l told
them had not made any preparation. but that
would exhibit sufficient to show the leading varie
ties, and was unwilling to risk the lives of large
quantity of trees as did last year, for the reason
that it too early to lift trees safely mention
ed this to Mr.. Westbrook on the ground at the Fair
about being too early to lift trees and he agreed
with me, saying cherry trees might be lifted at the
same time he said my trees exhibition very
fine, quite good enough for any body, Il can prove
this) Now, if my trees were good enough for any
body, how does it happen they are not good enough
for him? He we'll knows they were finer trees than
he ever raised. His statement that my trees were
year old is not true had 26 varieties of apple trees
l year old and nearly feet high, and which ex-
pect were better than MIR. Westbrook's apple trees
at years old, yet at the time could have ex-
hibited over 10000 apple trees and very fine too,
and years old His statement that l only ex-
hibited u pear trees and those dwarf is also IN
true. exhibited "a varieties of pears half of them
standards, as the Fair books show, and had about
5000 more trees in reserve if he was not satisfied
What the committee says to the world about my
trees being thriftiest is simply the TRUTH and well
Mr. Westbrook knows it. | had not taken any
pains to excel Mr. Westbrook this year, but GER
tanly shall next took part of my trees out of the
ground roots and ALL and proposed to the Judges 10
take part or all of my trees, and the same number
of Westbrook's best and lay them side by side and
thus judge them, or was willing to exhibit my
nursery against his.
To talk of trees being stimulated with manures,
is simply ridiculous. The sorriest agricuturist in
North Carolina we'll knows that he who works poor
land must manure it or have poor trees. I have
never used ten dollars worth of manure in my nur
sery since l have had one but l certainly shall
whenever find it necessary.
1t seems to be Mr.. Westbrook's opinion, that the
strong must rule the weak, or in other words, he
that has the most trees, irrespective Of quality mus
take the premiums If this was the case the larges
nursery in every State would monopolise, and the
small close their gates; fortunately this is moi
the rule I have not expended 800 900 dollars in thu
business, and never expect to, but at the same time
l think my nursery contains quite great varie
ty of fruit trees as Westbrook's and much larger
and finer stock of roses and evergreens at any rate
/ am willing to exhibit now, or at any future time
20 trees or 30,0 600 trees, against the same number
of Westbrook's, provided he will show bis from roo
to branch, and not have them packed up in straw
like they were at the Fair. The assertion
that trees raised in good land, will not grow vel
when planted in inferior ground will not hold good
for less than an hour ago, gentleman from llar
nett told me that three of his neighbors bough
trees from Westbrook and planted them in the fall
that he bought trees from me, and planted them TIT
next February and that in an old field too, and tina
the trees from my nursery had far out grown thos
from Westbrooks. which had been put in better lant
and manfred This tells to the point. The names
of the parties can be given.
, In conclusion the public have now a good oppor
tunty to test whether the judges decision tru
or false. Let those who want trees buy equal guam
titles of trees from my nursery and Westhrook's
and then see whose trees are the best and who's
grow the best when planted in the orchard. In con
clusion, cordially invite S. W. Westbrook Esq.
to call at my nursery during the growing season
where ne can have an opportunity of seeing tn
modus operandi Of growing good trees.
Respectfully. THOS. CARTER.
, Secession Feeling at the South.
! COLUMBIA, Nov. 16th.-Qute quiet in polite
now reigns here, but such unanimity in regard t
secession pervades all classes of Carolinans, tina
"unexamped" secession is looked upon as a fixe
fact" Messrs Perry, Orr, and other old Unionsts
either cooperate with or do not oppose the move
uent.s
Meetings are being held in all the Districts an
Parishes in the State, and as far as heard from al
are in favor Of secession. There is no opposition
to it,