142 
SOUTHERN 0 U r, 1M V A T O R . 
filch hand, fiome-made quilts anionj» tlie women and | 
children, with cotton, hay or shuck mattrasses. 
Ihe location should not only be considered geographi- 
cally but geologically, for we do lind certain conditions 
of soil to have a powerful effect on the system. To at- 
tempt to point out the peculiar diseasesincident to certain 
geological sfraiii would be a ta.sk difficult to accomplish, 
and indeed would be wandering in the wide field of 
speculation and hypothe.sis. But when we behold certain 
•sections of country where lime and limestone water pre- 
vails and tliere see almost circumscribed as by a line cer- 
frain calculous aflection of tlic kidneys and stony concre- 
tions in the upnary bladder nrevail ; and when we turn 
our eyes to the mountainous districts of the Alps, and there 
bod bi'onchoceleand goitre almost epidemic, then we think 
we see enough to warrant, us in dropping a line caution 
I'U this matter. Thus do v/c see the importance of know- 
ing the diseases incident to certain localities before we 
move and settle witli our families there, and when known 
enaoled ns, to some e.xtent, in throwing around us partial 
I’votortion. 
FOOD. 
Man is an omnivevous animal, consequently a strict 
adherence to one kind of diet is in opposition to his na- 
ture: and to obey Nature’s laws is one of the first prin- 
ciples of hygiene. These first known, readily dictate the 
general outline to be followed— meat, bread, vegetables, 
molasses and, occasionally, coffee with milk. Our prac- 
tice on our own plantation for years has been never to 
allowance our negroes with meal or vegetables, that is to 
be furnished to all in quantities as much as they can rea- 
sonable consume. Bacon may be given about tv/elve 
pound per month, with half gallon of molasses, and milk 
whenever the stock produce it. A most important part 
worthy of notice, is the attention necessary to be given to 
young negroes from one to ten years of age. They re- 
quire an old, trusty woman to pay attention to (heir food 
and clothing— ihth' food should be well cooked and they 
fed to satisfaction, and no diet suits them better than 
milk and bread, with meat and vegetables once per day. 
We would urge the necessity of nutritious and healthy 
diet, especially in sickly seasons, from having observed, 
in 1850, typhoid fever originate and prevail with .violence 
on a neighboring plantation among the blacks, we thought 
at the time, mostly for want of correct food ; and our 
opinion was verified by the fact that after we substituted 
a nourishing diet— meat, fresh beef, and colfee— and the 
disease was checked from spreading. When we recom- 
mend bacon, let it not be understood that salt provisions 
alone should be adhered to ; for fear of injuring the di- 
gestion or producing scorbutic affections, an occasional 
mingling of fresh beef, or mutton or kid, as we raise each 
on a farm, might be allowed. During convalescence from 
acute diseases, quantity and quality should be observed 
with a critic’s eye. 
( Concluded in our ■next.') 
litc'JLiARiTiEs OP Glass. — It is a curious fact that in 
science that glass resists the action of all acids except the 
fluoric; it losses nothing in weight' by use or age; it is 
more capable than all other substances of receiving the 
highest degree of polish ; if molted several times over and 
properly cooled in the furnace, it is capable of receiving 
a polish which almost rivals the diamond in brilliancy. It 
is susceptible of receiving the richest colors produced from 
gold or other metalic coloring, and will retain the original 
brilliancy of hue for ages. Medals, too, imbedded in 
glass, can be made to retain forever their original purity 
and appearance. 
SUGAR Fltem THE SORGHO. 
Specimens exhibited at the Farracr''s Club in Nev; Ycrrk. 
So'/gha Alcohol. Arrival oj AJr. hconard Wrai/, of 
Nataf South Africa. 
D. Redmond, 
Editoi of the Soiotherud' ulttvator — Your paper has come 
so prominently before the American public, because of 
the labors of one of its editors in cultivating the Sorgho 
Sucre, that I am tempted to forv/ard you an early account 
of the gratifying proof presented to the members of our 
Club of the importance of our new Sugar plant. The 
question is no longer resting under doubt, as to the possi- 
bility of producing crystalized sugar from the Sorgho. Its 
friends will no longer be met with obloquy, and oft- 
repeated sneers and charges of intemperate enthusiasm ; for 
the assumptions of Col. Peters, Dr. Battey, Mr. Redmond, 
Gov. Hammond, and those of us at the North who have 
attempted its culture, are fully supported by proofs given 
in the experience and fortunate results of Mr. Wray. 
In the pamphlet of Mr. Vilmorin, which I translated 
for the Working Funner, something more than a year 
since, is made mention of the fact that one Mr. Leonard 
Vfray, a planter, of Natal, in Kaffirland, had described to 
the author fifteen varieties of Imphee, which were esteem- 
ed for their saccharine richness by the natives, and from 
he h^rnade sugar. This gentleman is likewise 
referred to in' the report to tbe French Minister of War 
(if I remember aright), and in the Journal d' Ag. Pratirpue, 
and other leiSing journals. He has now been more than 
five years engaged in efforts to introduce the Imphec, and 
he tells me he has expended over i:4,000 sterling in ex- 
peiiments, etc. On invitation of a Govei nor of one of our 
States, he visits this country to introduce the plants, and 
dispose of his patented process of manufacturing crystal- 
ized sugar; and in view of our waning production of 
sugar on even the more favored of Southern plantations, the 
arrival of Mr. Wray can only be considered as of great 
consequence to our national revenue. 
Almost simultaneously with the publication in Europe 
of Mr. Wray’s African experience, came returns from 
China, and specimens of seed of another variety of the 
Imphxc i-ornWy, sent by the Count de Montigny, the French 
Consul at Shanghai, which plant has run through all the 
phases of experiment in France, even to triumphant suc- 
cess, and has been introduced to American agriculture 
under the name of “Chinese Sugar Cane.” Its^adapted- 
ness to our peculiarities of climate and soil has been 
proved in no less than thirteen of our States and Territor- 
ies, as I know by actual correspondence, and the fact that 
syrup can be made wherever Indian corn will mature its 
grains, is abundantly settled. But, except in a very small 
way and in few instances, specimens of crystalized sugar 
have not been obtained, and hen«e the idea has lately 
been advanced by a chemist at Boston that nothing but 
glucose or grape sugar could be had. It is not surprising 
that he should arrive at such conclusion, for it was previ- 
ously entertained by the Committee of the Imperial Accli- 
mation Society appointed to examine into the subject, and 
I do not doubt but that if this mysterious chemist, whose 
name I have been unable to learn, were to push his ex- 
periment sufficiently far he would attain similar results 
as the French chemist whose labors, as Dr. Ferrel express- 
es it “resulted in obtaining magnificent cubic crystals of 
sugar.” Our friend, Col. Peters, in a recent letter desires 
me to enquire into the above report of the Boston chemist: 
but just as I am about complying with his request, I have 
been fortunate enough to see, taste and handle subslaotial 
proofs of its unreliability. 
