128 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
PliANTING IMPLEMENTS. 
It is manifest to every Southern planter that the sys- 
tem of cultivation necessary to good and remunerative 
crops is a peculiar one : hence the necessity and import- 
ance of implements correspondingly peculiar that are to 
be used upon the plantation. Wtiat we mean is, imple- 
ments for plantation use should originate with those who 
know their use and importance, should be conceived and 
manufactured expressly for the work they are to perform 
and that an instrument suited to the working of a North- 
ern farm, though fully suited to its work there, may prove 
wholly worthless to us ; at least, may occasion a great 
deal of loss in more ways than one. Every planter, who 
gives himself up to a proper study of his business, knows 
precisely what kind of implements suits him. How much 
better it would be then, for him, and each and every one, 
to design such as are precisely of the kind wanted, take 
the model to some good smith, and have the precise thing 
made. It would save a vast deal of tinkering on Northern 
work to make it answer, and a great deal of vexation of 
spirit which every one, we imagine, would very willingly 
be relieved from. Bessdes, there is a pleasant indepen- 
dence aKout the matter — ’tis beneficial to the mind — makes 
one feel he is living aad working to some purpose. 
Let a planter have just such implements, as he knows 
will answer his ends, manufactured under his own direc- 
tion for the preparation of his land— others for planting — 
others for the different kinds of workings of the plants, 
&c., &c., and, though it may be at a little more outlay of 
money, our word for it, his satisfaction will be greater, 
his work better done, and his fields more fruitful. 
The implements a planter uses is no trifling consider- 
ation in agricultural progress, and it is really censurable 
for one to work with inferior tools when superior ones 
can be equally as easy had— to be content with little, 
when much can be as easily attained— to stand still, when 
it requires little or no effort to move ahead to wander off 
for elements of good, when every needful one surrounds 
and is with him all the time, and to purchase implements 
of husbandry, which are manufactured elsewhere just for 
money and without an eye to their adaptation, when he 
can so easily have a different sett right at his own door- 
just the kind he wants— by a very little extra application 
ofmind, and a veay little attention to every ramification of 
his business. This is a matter which deserves the atten- 
tion of the Southern planter, and one which should be 
more practically carried o\xi.~Southern Rural Gentle- 
man. 
INTERMARRIAGE OF COUSINS. 
Editors Southern Cultivator— In looking over the 
March number of the Cultivator my attention was drawn 
to an address delivered by Dr. Lee, “On Hereditary Blood 
in Man and other Mammalia,” in the course of which he 
stated that an act was passed in the Georgia Legislature 
“imposing pains and penalties” in any case where cousins 
should marry. 
I was under the impression that such a “bill” was offer- 
ed but did not pass but one house, having been lost in the 
Senate. 
I would be glad if you would inform me correctly in 
regard to one particular point, viz: “Did such an act be- 
come a law in Georgia!” 
An answer in your next will greatly oblige 
“Almo.” 
Alabama, February, 1859. 
THEY HAVE NO HOMES 
If we look well into the causes of the increase of crime, and 
the growing corruption and immorality in our great com- 
mercial metropolis, we cannot fail to find one of the condi- 
tions of existence in that city, which undoubtedly exercises 
an important influence. The people of New York have not 
room to live comfortably, nor even decently. The mass 
of the population, as well as many whose circumstances 
are considered good, have to exist in quarters so confined 
as to cause many deficiencies which good morals require. 
They are crowded into dwelling in such numbers as 
to render the air unwholesome, and forbid purification. 
Neither physical nor moral health can exist where people 
are packed into apartments too contracted to affsrd the or- 
dinary comfort and conveniences of life. There is nothing 
like home'm such dwellings — nothing like the social and 
friendly intercourse, and fire-side amusement and recrea- 
tion, which makes home under any other circumstances. 
The crowding of several families into a dwelling fit but for 
one, gives rise to bickering which destroys anything like 
satisfaction in domestic circles. One consequence of this 
manner of life is seen in the fondness of the New Yorkers 
for public amusements. Many of them regard their dwel- 
lings as merely places to eat and sleep in. They spend 
their hours of recreation, as well as business, away from 
their i nattractive places of abode. 
Another pernicious result of this manner of living is 
seen in the desire of families to live in hotels and boarding 
houses. Nineteen-twentieths of the people here can not 
atford the expense of a home; and those who might, are 
too much bent on making a display of their wealth to 
think of what makes real happiness. Certain physical 
comforts^and conveniences, as well as room, are utterly 
necessary for the proper home education of children; 
where these are wanting, the morals of a community 
must suffer . — Home Journal. 
Eating Fruit. — No liquid of any description should 
be drank within an hour afeer eating fruits, nor anything 
else be eaten within two or three hours afterwards — thus, 
time being allowed for them to pass out of the stomach, 
the system derives from them all their enlivening, cool- 
ing and opening influences. The great rule is, eat fruits 
in their natural state, without eating or Irinking any- 
thing for at least two hours afterwards. With these re- 
strictions, fruit and berries may be eatesn with moderation 
during any hour of the day, and without getting tired of 
them, or ceasing to be benefitted by them during the 
whole season. It is a great waste of lusciousness that 
fruits and berries, in their natural state, are not made the 
sole dessert of our meals, for three-fourths of the year ; 
human enjoyment, and health, and even life, would be 
promoted by it. — Hall's Journal of Health. 
Tanning Skins with the Hair on. — E. E. M., Jr., 
writes that the following is the best mode of curing skins 
with the hair on : — Take alum, salt and saltpetre in equal 
parts ; mix them together and pound them fine. Then 
spread the skin on a board, and put on the mixture before 
mentioned ; roll it up so as not to have the outside touch 
the inside. In a few days open it, ande scrape the grease 
off, which can be done very easily, and your skins is tan- 
ned. It will be soft and pliable for any use . — Boston Cul- 
tivator. 
l^'Let no man be ashamed of work, a hard hand, and 
a sun-burnt brow. 
^^Tirae never sits heavily on us but when badly em- 
ployed. 
Remarks by the Editor.— The Bill referred to passed 
one branch of the Legislature, and was lost in the other. 
