RKFP-016

Mound Nursery July 1st. 1850.

Dr. K'.

My Dear Friend.

Yours of June 18th. came duly to hand. I scratch you a few lines in reply before retiring to rest.

My friend Julian wrote me, June 18th, - "I should certainly take pleasure in doing any thing in my power to promote your friend, as suggested, but you will regret to leran that there is no prospect of our Agricultural Bureau being created this session, Slavery. Slavery is all the go &c."

Now my dear Sir, I am short sighted, & poorly able to deduce effects from causes, (especially such as are not easily demonstrable,) but if my impressions are right, I rejoice at, instead of regreting this postponement. It does occur to me that in that[underlined] event, your[underlined] chances might be decidedly better, mainly from the cause we have both mentioned; (the census,) Then again, from your position, locality &c. it seems to me you require more time to fully develope[underlined] yourself, if I may so speak, whereas your competitors, many of them perhaps, living where they are more easily ac-cessible to the "powers that be," would have the advantage of you in pressing their claims, if the contest were brought on more suddenly This may be all mere speculation, however,

I am trying to get ready for the Cincinnati trip would wish to start if practicable by middle of Aug. - If I go I might see some friends in Ind. & Ohio who have influence & perhaps excite[underlined] them a little in your favor.

Has the time of the convention yet been set? I am delighted with the prospect of the vis-it from yourself & Mr. Elliott. Hope you will not fail, though in order that you may not be disappointed, I feel it my duty to admonish you not to expect too much. We call ourselves mere babies[underlined] in Horticulture, nothing of the "amateur" as you might suppose, neither have we much, of acknowledged excellence, Mr. Harkness, Mr. Capps & Wm.. J. Phelps have fruits in quantity, I think our own orchard is young & fruiting sparsely The myriads of rosebugs[underlined] have preyed upon what little fruits we had, & nearly despoiled everything that had any beauty in it. - Our early fruits are backward this year, will probably mature about the first of next mo. - I think the old trees in the French orchards you mention are all seedling. - Have read but little of late, have not examined Mr. Peck's strictures.

We have had copious rains, everything grows at a rapid rate, weeds not excepted, very busy budding Good night

Yours cordially C R Overman.