4 



SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



.—ADVERTISING SHEET. 



The U. S. Government has, on several occasions, sent 

 troops to Old Point from other stations to recruit their 

 health, and with the desired effect. What induced 

 this was, doubtless, the favorable reports of the Army 

 Surgeons as to the sanitary character of the place. 

 We cannot account for tastes nor can we control fash- 

 ion ; but it has always been a matter of surprise to me 

 that visitors should leave the Point just at the time 

 when it is most pleasant. The latter part of Au- 

 gust and the whole of September are among the 

 healthiest and most agreeable periods to remain at 

 Old Point ; for the air is bracing and yet mild during 

 the day, and at night you sleep comfortably under a 

 blanket. Hog fish and oysters are of much finer flavor 

 than in July, and the fishing far better than in the ex- 

 treme heat of the summer. No one within the broad 

 limits of the Old Dominion can have failed to appreci- 

 ate the beauty of our Indian Summer (so called). 

 This, while it endures some few weeks in other locali- 

 ties, lasts the whole fall at the Point, commencing 

 about the 20th of August. I can give no stronger 

 proof of the earnestness and sincerity of my convic- 

 tions on this head, than by declaring that if the au- 

 thorities would grant me permission to erect a cottage 

 on the beach, 1 would gladly avail myself of the pri- 

 vilege with a view to residing there all summer and 

 fall with my family. But I will nol enlarge on this 

 topic. There is, and there can be, no dispute on the 

 subject, since all who know the place will endorse 

 every word I have uttered. The health of Old Point, 

 and its exemption from the fall diseases of our climate, 

 are facts too well established to admit of cavil or 

 doubt, indeed, to quote the words of a conspicuous 

 politician, it is a " fixed fact." 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant 

 F. MALLORY, M. D. 



* Norfolk, Aug. 24, 1856. 



Joseph Segar, Esq. : Dear Sir — Having spent my 

 school-boy days in the immediate vicinity of Old Point, 

 and somewhat familiar for many years with the hygeaic 

 condition of the people — residents and guests, who an- 

 nually assembled there — 1 am enabled to answer your 

 enquiry with entire confidence in the correctness of 

 my own conclusions. This experience has satisfied 

 me that no locality, in our latitude, can be more heal- 

 thy. Unconnected with " the main," save by a narrow 

 strip of beach land, which is only partially covered 

 with a stunted vegetation ; its sources every where 

 washed by the salt ocean wave, and without a single 

 sunken spot where vegetable humus can gather, it 

 seems to me utterly impossible that malaria can be 

 generated there, or that noxious airs can reach it from 

 my portion of the adjacent country . Come from what- 

 ever point of the compass the winds may, they are sea 

 breezes still, and could scarcely waft a poisonous ex- 

 halation from xhemlistant shores abroad. 



In rfty estimation, fevers of a bilious, remitent or in- 

 termittent type might as soon be expected to originate 

 on the highest peak of the Blue Ridge as on the clean, 

 barren sand plane on which the Hygeia Hotel is built. 

 Yours, truly, J. J. S1MKINS. 



Hampton, Va., March 30. 1857. 

 My Dear Sir — I have received your letter request- 

 ing my opinion of the general healthiness of Old Point 

 Comfort, and particularly as to its exemption from 

 bilious diseases. 



In reply to your inquiry, it gives me pleasure to 

 state, that I know of no place in Virginia with which 

 Old Point Comfort will not, in that respect, favourably 

 compare; and I do not remember ever to have seen a 

 case oj bilious fever which originated at that place. 

 Yours, respectfullv, 



WM. R. VAUGHAN, M. D. 

 Jos. Segai', Esq., Roseland. 



Alexandria, Aug. 25, 1856. 

 My Dear Sir— In reply to yours of 20th instant, I 

 can only say, that the healthiest spot I have ever 



known is Old Point Comfort ; and this I say after a 

 residence there of eight or nine years. A very mista- 

 ken notion prevails as to its health in August and the 

 fall months, and there are persons who deem it unsafe 

 to remain there at such times. My own experience 

 teaches me that, for comfort and health, Old Point is 

 far more desiruble in August and the fall months than 

 earlier. Fish and oysters are in greater perfection, 

 and no climate can be purer or, more delightful, or 

 healthier. At any season of the year, Spring, Sum- 

 mer, Autumn or Winter, I would as soon take my 

 chance for health there as at the White Sulphur 

 Springs, or any watering place in America. 



Yours, very truly, 



JAMES S. FRENCH. 



Jos. Segar, Esq., Roseland, Eliz. City Co., Va. 



May 57— 5t 



Threshing Machines. 



I continue to manufacture threshing drums as here- 

 tofore upon the most approved plan, with self oiling 

 boxes, with or without straw separators. These drums 

 are now so well known that I only need refer to the 

 fact that they were put in competition with all the 

 prominent threshers of this and the Northern States, 

 at the State Fairs in 1853, '54, and 1855, and received 

 the highest premiums each year. My new internal- 

 geared horse power, exhibited for the first time at the 

 State Fair in 1855, attracted universal attention, and 

 was awarded the first premium on horse powers. It 

 was used extensively in the harvest of 1856, and was 

 again awarded the first premium at the Fair in No- 

 vember, 1856. 



It is adapted to any machinery, has many advanta- 

 ges over others, and is worthy of particular attention. 

 It requires no digging to secure it for work, may be 

 connected to the thresher by gear-wheels, avoiding 

 the annoyance of slipping bands, breaking strings, 

 &c, or may be used with belt as is most customary. 

 Made for 4, 6 and 8 horses. 



ap 4t H. M. SMTTH. 



P. HORTON KEACH, 



No. 91, Main Street, Richmond, 



Agent for the sale of Messrs. HUNT # WEBSTER'S 

 improved 



''Family Sewing Machines." 



Also, manufacturer and dealer in Ladies dress 

 Trimmings, Hosiery, Gloves, Yarns, Wors- 

 ted, Fancy Goods, &c. 

 Also, manufacturer of BANNERS, FLAGS and RE- 

 GALIA of every description. 

 N. B. — Instruction given gratis to purchasers of 

 Sewing Machines. " Feb. 1857. 



